Paraplegia after pneumonectomy – A rare complication

Abstract

Cardiac metastases of lung cancers are common and are associated with serious complications. Locally aggressive lung tumors have the potential to extend into the left atrium via pulmonary veins, which can further complicate by embolizing into the systemic circulation. Pulmonary blastoma (PB) is one of the rare forms of primary lung malignancy and is locally aggressive. We report a rare case of 30 years old male patient who underwent left pneumonectomy for PB. During resection, the tumor was embolized into the descending thoracic aorta, leading to an acute circulatory compromise of both the lower limbs.

Keywords

• embolization
• pulmonary blastoma
• pulmonary vein
• transesophageal echocardiography