| CASE REPORT |
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| Year : 2011 | Volume
: 1
| Issue : 1 | Page : 119-121 |
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Clinical demonstration of efficiency and reversibility of hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction in a patient presenting with unilateral incomplete bronchial occlusion
Syeda Jafri1, Pasupathy Sivasothy1, Francis Wells2, Nicholas W Morrell1
1 Department of Medicine, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, United Kingdom
2 Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Papworth Hospital, Cambridge, United Kingdom
Correspondence Address:
Nicholas W Morrell
Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Box 157, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 0QQ
United Kingdom
DOI: 10.4103/2045-8932.78098 PMID: 22034599
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Although hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction is a well-recognized physiological phenomenon it is unusual to observe and assess its efficiency in clinical practice. Here, we report the case of a 50-year-old female who presented with unilateral incomplete bronchial occlusion due to a carcinoid tumor involving the left main bronchus in the absence of atelectasis. Ventilation-perfusion imaging revealed absent ventilation and perfusion to the left lung. She underwent bronchotomy and removal of the tumor. One month after the operation a further ventilation-perfusion lung scan revealed complete restoration of ventilation to the left lung and almost complete recovery of the perfusion. This unusual case demonstrates the marked efficiency of hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction at the level of a single lung and its reversible nature following relief of regional hypoxia. |
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