Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 1996; 44(1): 56-57
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-1011985
Case Report

© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

A Case of Bronchopleural Fistula Detected by Monitoring Plasma Endothelin-1

J. Yamashita, K. Kawahara, T. Shirakusa
  • Department of Surgery II, Fukuoka University School of Medicine, Fukuoka, Japan
Further Information

Publication History

1995

Publication Date:
19 March 2008 (online)

Abstract

Levels of endothelin (ET)-1 peptide are transiently increased after major physical stress. While studying sequential changes in plasma ET-1 levels during various types of stress, we noticed that the level of plasma ET-1 began to rise 10 days post-operatively in one patient with lung cancer who had undergone a left lower lobectomy. 35 days postoperatively a bronchopleural fistula became clinically manifest. The case is presented and the use of plasma ET-1 as an indicator is discussed.