Combined treatment with endobronchial Watanabe spigot and N‐butyl‐2‐cyanoacrylate for refractory pneumothorax in COVID‐19

Abstract

Abstract Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) causes pneumothorax or mediastinal emphysema in approximately 1% of patients. According to the British Thoracic Society guidelines, the next treatment option for patients with persistent pneumothorax despite chest drainage is pleurodesis or surgery. In fact, there are reports of autologous blood pleurodesis or surgery for the treatment of pneumothorax caused by COVID‐19. However, elderly patients or patients in poor general condition may not be able to tolerate surgical invasion. In this report, we present two patients who did not respond to chest drainage or pleurodesis and who were not suitable for surgery because of their poor general condition. These patients were successfully treated with an endobronchial Watanabe spigot and N‐butyl‐2‐cyanoacrylate. This method may be an option for the treatment of refractory pneumothorax in COVID‐19.

Keywords

• COVID‐19
• endobronchial Watanabe spigot (EWS)
• N‐butyl‐2‐cyanoacrylate (NBCA)
• pneumothorax