Airway obstruction caused by loculated mediastinal effusion after ivor lewis operation.

[esophageal carcinoma]

Airway obstruction after esophageal surgery is quite rare , and few such cases have been reported . A 57 -year -old woman who underwent the Ivor Lewis procedure for esophageal carcinoma complained of a sudden onset of severe dyspnea on postoperative day 3 . Chest computed tomography scan revealed that the collection of a large volume of mediastinal fluid caused marked luminal compression on the trachea and the gastric conduit . Explorative thoracotomy revealed a clear serous fluid in the space between the trachea and the gastric conduit , and all respiratory symptoms were relieved after the fluid was drained . The possibility of tracheal compression by loculated effusion , such as chyloma , should be considered in a patient who complains of respiratory deterioration after esophageal surgery .