Delayed postoperative bleeding following lobectomy caused by the sharp tip of a suture: a case report

Surg Case Rep. 2020 Oct 6;6(1):261. doi: 10.1186/s40792-020-01039-w.

Abstract

Background: Postoperative bleeding is a rare but serious complication occasionally caused by hard surgical materials, such as staples. Postoperative hemorrhage caused by sutures is very rare.

Case presentation: A 75-year-old man with lung cancer underwent right lower lobectomy. Eleven days after surgery, he developed a haemothorax. Emergency thoracotomy revealed arterial bleeding from a pinhole injury in the parietal pleura caused by a monofilament non-absorbable suture tip used during the initial surgery.

Conclusions: Postoperative bleeding is a serious complication, and as sutures are often used in surgery, it is important to be cautious while using this material.

Keywords: Haemothorax; Lobectomy; Postoperative bleeding.