Air-leak syndrome

Approved for air-leak syndromes Simple to operate Increased mucostasis ... 

Although air-leak syndromes have not been recognized as a fatal complication in HSC transplant recipients, pneumothorax, pneumomediastinum and subcutaneous emphysema are potential complications of patients with chronic GVHD and BO. 

In these patients, air in the peribronchial sheets (pulmonary interstitial emphysema) can be associated with impairment of respiratory function and/or chest pain, possibly resulting from compression of small vessels by the interstitial air. In most patients, pulmonary interstitial emphysema is transient and it is well known that this process is difficult, if not impossible, to detect by chest radiograph. Chest CT should be performed in any HSC transplant recipient with known or suspected cGVHD who present with acute clinical symptoms, especially chest pain, to rule out associated air-leak syndromes. Therefore, suspicion of BO should be high and prompt therapy should be initiated in long-term HSC transplant recipients presenting with spontaneous pneumomediastinum, pneumothorax or subcutaneous emphysema (Franquet et al. 2007). 

Franquet T, Rodriguez S, Hernindez JM, Martino R, Gim -nez A, Hidalgo A, Domingo P (2007) Air-leak syndromes in hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients with chronic GVHD. High-resolution CT findings. J Thorac Imaging (in press)... 

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