Percutaneous stenting to treat pulmonary vein stenosis: After single-lung transplantation

Pulmonary vein stenosis after lung transplantation is rare. Untreated, it can cause transplant failure and death. We describe the case of a 56-year-old man in whom pulmonary vein stenosis developed after single-lung transplantation. He was successfully treated with angioplasty and stent implantation guided by intravascular ultrasonography. To our knowledge, this is the first report of using this method to evaluate the pulmonary vein after lung transplantation, to confirm the diagnosis of pulmonary vein stenosis, and to guide the sizing and positioning of a stent. In lung-transplant recipients, percutaneous stent implantation may preclude reoperation and salvage the transplanted lung when used as treatment for pulmonary vein stenosis.