Limited Scleroderma-Induced Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Resulting in Impaired Postoperative Respiratory Function

• Published in: Curēus (Palo Alto, CA) Vol. 13; no. 3; p. e13742
• Main Authors: Shah, Farhan A, Mahler, Nathan, Braford, Michalla, Greene, Nelson
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Cureus 06.03.2021
• Subjects: Internal Medicine; Pulmonology; pulmonary arterial hypertension; scleroderma
• ISSN: 2168-8184; 2168-8184
• DOI: 10.7759/cureus.13742

Limited scleroderma falls under the umbrella of systemic sclerosis, an autoimmune disease that presents with multiorgan dysfunction that includes pulmonary arterial hypertension. We examine a case of pulmonary arterial hypertension in an elderly nonsmoker with a history of limited scleroderma.  The patient presented with abdominal tenderness and was diagnosed with a sigmoid colonic stricture. She underwent laparoscopic bowel resection. During and after her surgery, she suffered from worsening respiratory function and decompensated, developing a large pleural effusion that led to a thoracentesis and a prolonged hospital course. Patients with scleroderma can develop acute symptoms involving several organ systems, including the colonic tract and lungs, as seen in our patient. A thorough workup and continuous close management and monitoring are necessary to avoid further complications in these patients, especially in the postoperative period.