Pulmonary mucormycosis is a rare but rapidly progressing and life‐threatening fungal infection, usually affecting immunocompromised patients. We report a case of a previously healthy young lady who presented with prolonged cough, weight loss, and haemoptysis. Imaging showed left hilar mass with infiltration into the left main bronchus and concurrent mediastinal lymphadenopathy. Flexible bronchoscopy revealed an endobronchial mass occluding the left main bronchus. Tumour debulking was performed using rigid bronchoscopy with cryoprobe and snares. Histopathological examination revealed inflamed tissue with fungal organism. Fungal polymerase chain reaction (PCR) confirmed
Rhizopus microsporus
. She was treated with two weeks of intravenous amphotericin‐B with complete clinical and radiological resolution.
Tracheobronchial stenosis due to tuberculosis (TSTB) is a potentially debilitating complication of endobronchial tuberculosis (EBTB). Endobronchial interventions including silicone stent insertion is an acceptable approach to improve quality of life among patients with TSTB. However, little is known about the optimal management strategy for patients with bronchomalacia secondary to EBTB (B-EBTB) and whether stent-related complication rates are higher among this group of patients. Herein, we report two patients with B-EBTB who unfortunately developed bronchial tear related to silicone endobronchial stenting. Both patients were successfully managed conservatively without the need for emergency open surgery. We hypothesize that endobronchial intervention might be more beneficial for patients with pure TSTB and might be riskier in cases of bronchomalacia with reduced airway thickness and loss of airway cartilaginous support. More future studies are needed to bridge the current gap in knowledge regarding the optimal management and role of endobronchial interventions among patients with B-EBTB.
The ongoing pandemic of COVID-19 has presented multiple challenges to global
healthcare services, dictating changes in almost every aspect of daily medical practice.
Performing aerosol generating procedures (AGPs) in the field of interventional
pulmonology can lead to profound formation of aerosols, leading to a high risk of
infection among healthcare workers (HCWs). We share our experiences on performing
AGPs in the midst of a COVID-19 pandemic by focusing on changes in AGP practices.
In a pandemic, HCWs ought to adapt to the ever-changing situation and use available
resources to provide the best possible healthcare to patients, ensure safety of staff, and
continue medical education of future pulmonologists.
Keywords: Bronchoscopy, infectious diseases, pulmonary, respiratory medicine
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