Giant bullous emphysema successfully treated with percutaneous drainage followed by resection: A case complicated by lung cancer diagnosed by intraoperative biopsy

Abstract

Abstract We present a case of bilateral giant bullous emphysema (GBE) with rapidly progressive dyspnea. The dyspnea was thought to be due to tension bullae caused by the check valve mechanism in COVID‐19 bronchitis. Multiple nodules were also detected on both sides of the lung. As the patient had poor pulmonary reserve for surgical bullectomy, we first performed percutaneous intracavitary drainage. Prior to this procedure, we placed a chest tube in the thoracic cavity to avoid tension pneumothorax. As a result, the patient's remaining lung expanded and respiratory status improved, allowing him to undergo surgical bullectomy. Intraoperatively, needle biopsy of the lung nodule was directly performed, which led to a diagnosis of adenocarcinoma. Despite multiple distant metastases, the patient's general condition improved postoperatively, and chemotherapy was successfully initiated.

Keywords

• giant bullous emphysema
• lung cancer
• percutaneous drainage
• respiratory failure