RESUMEN
Background As far as we know, there are no reports comparing the safety and cough frequency of transnasal bronchoscopy (TNB) with transoral bronchoscopy (TOB). Methods The subjects were 50 patients who underwent either TNB or TOB and completed the pain score questionnaire between May and November 2020. Complications, pain scores, and cough frequency (times per minute) were compared between the patients with TNB and TOB. A surgical mask was worn over the mouthpiece during the examination. Results Thirty-two and 18 patients underwent TNB and TOB, respectively. Between the two groups, there were no significant differences in examination time and frequency of serious complications. In pain scores, there were no significant differences in terms of anesthesia suffering, several pains during the examination, and availability of re-examination. The TNB group did not feel the prolonged examination time compared to the TOB group (p=0.04). Cough frequency was lower in the TNB group than in the TOB group (0.36 vs 0.73, p=0.027). Moreover, cough frequency in the 25 TNB patients who underwent thin bronchoscopy was significantly lower (0.19 vs 0.73, p<0.01). Conclusions TNB with a surgical mask was well tolerated and safe. Cough frequency in the transnasal thin bronchoscopy was extremely low, suggesting aerosol reduction can be expected.
RESUMEN
A 31-year-old woman (gravida 3, para 2) presented at hospital in the 33rd week of gestation with concerns of general malaise, a productive cough, and impaired taste. She was diagnosed with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) after a nasal antigen test; a computed tomography (CT) scan of the chest showed pneumonia. The patient developed dyspnea on the third day of hospitalization, and it worsened the following day. Oxygen inhalation and steroid administration were started. Since the dyspnea was worsening, an emergency cesarean delivery was performed to allow intensification of maternal treatment. A postoperative CT scan showed that the pneumonia was getting worse, and the administration of remdesivir was started immediately. The dyspnea improved rapidly, and medication was discontinued on postoperative day 4. The patient was discharged on postoperative day 6. Thus, a patient in the third trimester of pregnancy with COVID-19 whose respiratory condition worsened was successfully treated by early delivery and subsequent intensive treatment.
RESUMEN
A 65-year-old man with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was admitted to our hospital. Computed tomography detected bilateral pneumonia with a lung nodule suspicious for lung cancer. Lobectomy was performed 3 months after the treatment for COVID-19 without any complications. The surgical specimen revealed fibrosis below the pleura with a small collection of lymphocytes and intravascular hemorrhagic thrombosis, and no residual RNA was detected. This is the first report describing a surgical specimen after recovery from COVID-19 pneumonia, and suggests that elective thoracic surgery can be performed safely, depending on the patient's respiratory function, without infectious risk.