Lobar lung transplantation, followed by partial sternal resection and bronchial stenosis, in a patient with scoliosis

Scoliotic deformity represents a serious spinal disorder that influences the locomotive and cardiopulmonary systems. Some patients with severe scoliosis and end-stage lung disease are therefore denied lung transplantation. In patients with scoliosis considering lung transplantation, size match, straight back syndrome, delayed chest closure and bronchial stenosis are key issues clinicians should evaluate. Therefore, it is vital to determine donor-recipient size matches very precisely. Chest opening is a routine intraoperative primary therapeutic procedure after lung transplantation in unstable patients with oversized transplanted lungs. Postoperative bronchial stenosis occurs predominantly on the right side and is usually handled through interventional bronchoscopy and the insertion of stents. This report describes the complex case of a patient with scoliosis who underwent lobar transplantation in our center.