[Reexpansion Pulmonary Edema and Atrial Fibrillation after Resection of a Giant Solitary Fibrous Tumor of the Pleura].

We report a case of giant solitary fibrous tumor( SFT) of the pleura postoperatively complicated with probable reexpansion pulmonary edema and atrial fibrillation. An 85-year-old woman was diagnosed to have a 13 cm sized intrathoracic neoplasm. Upon thoracotomy, the tumor was found to pedunculate from the right lung with no direct invasion to the surrounding structures. Complete resection of the tumor and expansion of the right lung was obtained. Histopathology revealed the tumor was a benign SFT arising from the visceral pleura. An infiltrative shadow in the right lower lung field soon after the surgery suggested a reexpansion pulmonary edema, which eventually recovered within a week. The patient suffered from a refractory atrial fibrillation that led to a congestive heart failure requiring an intensive medical treatment. It is emphasized that thoracic surgeons should be aware of these postoperative complications in treating such a case like this.