Treatment of a pneumatocele in a COVID-19 patient with endobronchial valves. Issue 6 (21st June 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bugge, Anders Standal; Sundset, Arve; Aaløkken, Trond Mogens; Jørgensen, Lars Hilmar
• Is Part Of: BMJ case reports. Volume 15:Issue 6(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-06-21
• Subjects: Air leaks -- COVID-19 -- Pneumothorax -- Respiratory medicine -- Cardiothoracic surgery; Medicine -- Case studies -- Periodicals; 610.5
• DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2022-250409
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1757-790X

Abstract

Abstract : A man in his 40s was admitted to his local hospital 6 days after the first vague symptoms of COVID-19. His general condition deteriorated, and he was treated in the intensive care unit but did not require mechanical ventilation. During his recovery, he experienced a cough spell, after which his dyspnoea recurred and rapidly increased. CT pulmonary angiogram showed a 10×18 cm cavitary lesion with an air-fluid level and surrounding atelectasis of the right lower lobe. A one-way valve mechanism had developed, leading to the formation of a pneumatocele. The patient was treated by occlusion of all bronchial segments of the right lower lobe with endobronchial valves, and the pneumatocele was evacuated with a pigtail catheter. The valves were removed 4 weeks after insertion, and the right lower lobe re-expanded. Six months after treatment, the patient had recovered completely and almost regained his former lung function.