Management of A Case of Endobronchial Blood Clot in the Post Operative Period

Abstract

Endobronchial blood clot is an unusual cause of airway obstruction leading to lung collapse in the postoperative period. It is not always easy to pin point the exact etiology in the presence of multiple risk factors. Pulmonary collapse can herald the onset of severe haemodynamic derangements and hypoxemia. So, early identification and manage-ment is crucial for preventing catastrophic complications. Various modalities have been described in the literature for removing the obstructing clot and re-expansion of the lung. We present a case of postoperative left lung collapse by an obstructing endobronchial blood clot in a patient undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

Keywords

• Endobronchial blood clot
• Pulmonary collapse
• Bronchoscopy