Objectives: Brain infarction is a critical complication after lung resection using video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. Recent reports have described its association with thrombosis in the pulmonary vein (PV) stump. However, the optimal management of this complication remains controversial. We describe serial 3 cases of brain infarctions associated with thrombosis in the PV stumps, which were successfully treated with the oral Xa inhibitor rivaroxaban.
Methods and results: We retrospectively reviewed medical records of 3 patients. The first case was a 72-year-old man who underwent left upper lobectomy for treatment of lung adenocarcinoma. The second case was a 55-year-old man who underwent right lower segmentectomy for treatment of metastatic tumor from Barrett's esophageal carcinoma. The third case was a 73-year-old man who underwent left upper lobectomy for treatment of metastatic tumor from colon adenocarcinoma. In the first case, a large cerebellar infarction was developed and a decompressive craniotomy was performed on postoperative day 4. In the second and the third case, cerebral infarctions in the territories of right middle cerebral arteries occurred on postoperative day 2. In all cases, contrast-enhanced computed tomography demonstrated the thrombi in the stumps of the PVs. They were treated with oral administration of rivaroxaban without adverse effect, and the thrombi in the PVs disappeared within 1 month.
Discussion: Blood flow stasis in the long PV stump after lung resection might contribute to thrombosis development. Oral Xa inhibitor rivaroxaban appeared to be safe and useful for the management of ischemic stroke associated with PV thrombosis after lung resection.
Keywords: Anticoagulation therapy; cerebral infarction; lung resection; pulmonary-vein thrombosis; rivaroxaban.
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