Cerebral embolism caused by thrombus in the pulmonary vein stump after left lower lobectomy: A case report and literature review

Abstract

Cerebral embolism after left upper lobectomy caused by a thrombus in the pulmonary vein stump (PVS) is a serious complication. However, it is unclear if cerebral embolism can develop after other types of lobectomy. We present a case of a 68-year-old man with cerebral embolism after left lower lobectomy with a longer PVS than normal. There were no clinically suspected sources for the thrombus except for the PVS. This thrombus seemed to have formed in the PVS. The endovascularly removed thrombus contained scattered nuclear debris around neutrophils, suggesting a physiological response caused by tissue injury.