Treatment of persistent air leak with endobronchial valves: a case report

Abstract

142was treated with bullectomy five years ago. He had been admitted to the hospital for three times with a similar presentation; a spontaneous, right basal pneumothorax and was treated with tube thoracostomy. He was conscious, with vital signs of arterial blood pressure 135/80 mmHg, the heart rate 92 beats per minute, respiratory rate 28 per minute and an oxygen saturation of 89% at room air. There were decreased respiratory sounds in all zones on the right lung auscultation. Chest imaging demonstrated a total pneumothorax in the right lung (Figure 1). On thoracic-computed tomography (CT), bullous areas at the apexes of both lungs and a right pneumothorax were observed (Figure 2). Tube thoracostomy was performed. Although he had clinically improved, there was no improvement of the right pneumothorax, therefore surgery was considered. But this was