Airway Complications After Pulmonary Resection

The patient undergoing pulmonary surgery is exposed to a complex set of potential complications from the operative intervention and from the individual pathology being addressed. Frequently, these factors are interrelated and contribute to significant sequelae in the perioperative period. This risk obliges the physician to be facile with preventive techniques, astute in prompt recognition of problems, and informed of new and successful treatment strategies. The emphasis of the following review is on the recognition and management of airway complications following pulmonary resection, specifically focusing on lobar torsion following lobectomy, dehiscence of the bronchial stump following lobectomy or pneumonectomy, and bronchial stenosis following bronchoplastic resections.