Acquired pulmonary vein stenosis after cardiovascular surgery is a rare yet not serious complication. We hereby present the case of one patient who developed a complete occlusion of the right upper pulmonary vein during the immediate postoperative care following surgical mitral valve replacement. The diagnostic key was the development of respiratory failure and unilateral pulmonary edema. The axial chest computed tomography scan performed confirmed the presence of one alveolar consolidation at the level of the right upper lobe of the lung sparing the remaining pulmonary fields and one mediastinal hematoma (Fig. 1). This study was complemented with another study that used IV contrast and confirmed the collapse of the right pulmonary vein close to the junction of the right atrium (Fig. 2). Stenosis resolved after evacuating the mediastinal hematoma.

Figure 1.

Computed tomography scan: alveolar consolidation at the level of the right upper lobe of the lung and moderate mediastinal hematoma.

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Figure 2.

Computed tomography scan reconstruction with contrast: collapse of the right pulmonary vein close to the junction of the right atrium (white arrow).

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