Nugent TS, Aladaileh M, Donlon NE, Murphy N, Eaton D. Endobronchial valve use in COVID-19 related pneumothorax and persistent air leak.
Ann R Coll Surg Engl 2022;
104:e137-e138. [PMID:
34730417 PMCID:
PMC9773871 DOI:
10.1308/rcsann.2021.0197]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Pneumothoraces may occur rarely in coronavirus (COVID-19) patients, often resulting from a combination of fibrotic parenchymal changes and prolonged high-pressure ventilation. Very few studies have been published describing the management of pneumothorax in the novel COVID-19 pneumonia patients. Although chest drain insertion represents the first line of treatment, a persistent pneumothorax and air leak requiring intervention could be managed by a thoracoscopic procedure or, as is the case here, by endobronchial valve insertion. Endobronchial valve insertion is a minimally invasive technique that provides a treatment option in patients with severe parenchymal COVID-19 related lung disease. As far as the authors are aware this is the first report of the use of endobronchial valves in a COVID-19 patient.
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