Visceral Pleural Perforation in Two Cases of Ultrathin Bronchoscopy

• Published in: Chest Vol. 127; no. 6; pp. 2271 - 2273
• Main Authors: Oki, Masahide, Saka, Hideo, Kitagawa, Chiyoe, Sako, Chieko, Tanaka, Shigeru, Kawada, Yoshihiro, Mori, Kouki
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Northbrook, IL Elsevier Inc 01.06.2005; American College of Chest Physicians; Elsevier B.V
• Subjects: Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Bronchoscopes - adverse effects; Bronchoscopy - adverse effects; Bronchoscopy - methods; Cardiology. Vascular system; Care and treatment; complication; Diagnosis; Equipment Design; Female; Fiber Optic Technology; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Kala-azar; Lung Neoplasms - diagnosis; Lung Neoplasms - surgery; Medical sciences; Pleura - injuries; Pneumology; Pneumothorax; Pneumothorax - etiology; Pneumothorax - physiopathology; Preoperative Care - methods; Risk Assessment; ultrathin bronchoscope; Viscera - injuries; visceral pleural perforation; United States; complication; ultrathin bronchoscope; pneumothorax; visceral pleural perforation; Bronchoscopy; Case study; Cardiovascular disease; Endoscopy; Respiratory disease; Perforation
• ISSN: 0012-3692; 1931-3543
• DOI: 10.1378/chest.127.6.2271

Recently, ultrathin bronchoscopes with a thinner external diameter, greater visual range, improved visibility, and a larger working channel have been developed. The utility of a 2.8-mm diameter ultrathin bronchoscope in diagnosing peripheral pulmonary nodules has been reported by some authors. While the feasibility of approaching peripheral pulmonary lesions is attractive, peculiar complications that have not been experienced with standard bronchoscopy may occur. We report two cases in which pneumothoraces occurred because their visceral pleuras were perforated with an ultrathin bronchoscope during the procedure. The peculiar mechanism of pneumothorax in relation to ultrathin bronchoscopy is discussed.