Endoscopic surgery to remove sharp bone fragments from the bronchus of an elderly patient

NDO - On May 29, doctors from the Department of Internal Medicine, Respiratory and Allergy Immunology, Da Nang Hospital announced that they had successfully removed a sharp bone fragment from the airway of a 69-year-old female patient with LTTR (a resident of Tam Ky, Quang Nam province) using bronchoscopy under anesthesia. The patient had been coughing for 3 months without stopping, accompanied by recurrent pneumonia.

Accordingly, patient LTTR was admitted to the emergency room with a dry cough that lasted for more than 3 months. Recently, the cough increased, accompanied by fever and chest pain. Previously, the patient had been treated at a lower-level medical facility, but suspected of worsening, so he was transferred to Da Nang Hospital.

Chest X-ray results showed a solid lesion in the upper lobe of the left lung.

Chest CT scan results showed localized collapse with partial bronchiectasis of the left upper lobe/high-density contrast image in the left upper-lower lobe bronchiole junction.

The patient was prescribed a bronchoscopy with a flexible tube under anesthesia. Doctors successfully removed a piece of bone measuring about 2x1.5cm, sharp, causing prolonged inflammation.

After surgery, the patient was alert, cough and chest pain were significantly reduced, and the lungs were well ventilated.

The patient's health after endoscopic surgery is now stable, with reduced coughing. (Photo: ANH DAO)

According to specialist doctor II Hoang Thi Tam, Deputy Head of the Department of Internal Medicine, Respiratory Medicine - Allergy and Immunology, foreign bodies in the airways are a dangerous cause that can be overlooked if not thought of and diagnosed early.

Foreign objects not only cause chronic pneumonia and coughing up blood, but can also lead to respiratory failure, which is life-threatening.

People need to be especially vigilant when they have symptoms of prolonged cough, recurrent pneumonia, especially after choking or eating carelessly.

In many cases, foreign objects can go deep into the airway after a strong cough without the patient realizing it. Bronchoscopy is an important technique to help detect and remove foreign objects from the airway safely and effectively if any.

Source: https://nhandan.vn/mo-noi-soi-lay-manh-xuong-sac-canh-ra-khoi-phe-quan-benh-nhan-lon-tuoi-post883186.html