Pleural effusions early post-transp

Pleural effusions early post-transplant — In the early post-lung transplant period, the most likely contributing factors to the accumulation of pleural fluid include increased alveolar capillary permeability, because of allograft ischemia, denervation, and subsequent reperfusion [13], and disruption of lymphatic flow due to severance of allograft lung lymphatics. It has been reported that 100 percent of lung transplant recipients have pleural effusions post-transplant. As an example, in one series of 100 patients, all had ipsilateral pleural effusions after lung transplantation [14]. Thus, all patients have chest tubes in place postoperatively to drain the pleural space and diuretics are commonly utilized to try to reduce pleural fluid accumulation [15].