Mediastinal complications following retropleural operation for oesophageal atresias
Steil, E.; Schweizer, P.; Nolte, K.; Flach, A.
Zeitschrift für Kinderchirurgie und Grenzgebiete 30(1): 33-34
1980
ISSN/ISBN: 0044-2909 PMID: 7456683 Document Number: 161457
Serious acute complications can occur in relation to anastomotic insufficiency or re-opening of the fistula in patients with tracheo-oesophageal fistula and atresia, even if the repair has been carried out extra-pleurally. For this reason the patient should not be nursed flat and the important life-threatening signs to watch for are increasing tachypnoea and dyspnoea with respiratory acidosis and a central air shadow in the mediastinum.