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ROCK AND ROLL AND LASER IN BETWEEN: BRONCHOSCOPIC LITHOTRIPSY
Chest ; 162(4):A2046, 2022.
Article in English | EMBASE | ID: covidwho-2060892
ABSTRACT
SESSION TITLE Case Reports of Procedure Treatments Posters SESSION TYPE Case Report Posters PRESENTED ON 10/19/2022 1245 pm - 0145 pm

INTRODUCTION:

Broncholiths are calcifications in the tracheobronchial tree that are most commonly associated with indolent infections. Disease manifestations range from asymptomatic stones in the airway to major complications such as massive hemoptysis or post-obstructive pneumonias. Depending on severity of the disease, patient management can range from conservative strategies to surgical interventions. We report successful reduction of a large obstructive broncholith in the right middle lobe via Holmium-yttrium aluminum garnet (HoYAG) laser lithotripsy. CASE PRESENTATION Patient is a 55 year old male who presented with on going purulent cough, fever and pleuritic chest pain for 3 months. He had associated weight loss (>10 lbs in 3 months), malaise, increased fatigue, and scant hemoptysis. Initial chest x-ray was evident of right middle lobe consolidation. Respiratory infection panel, COVID PCR, AFB cultures and fungal cultures were negative. Subsequent CT of his chest showed right middle lobe opacities with areas of obstruction with a broncholith. Subsequently, patient underwent rigid bronchoscopy to allow for left sided airway protection via direct tamponade if patient develops massive hemoptysis. A bronchoscopic inspection was performed through the rigid scope that confirmed the broncholith. Obliteration of broncholith was then performed via HoYAG. After multiple laser treatments, we noted improvement in the size of the broncholith. Patient admitted to significant improvement in chest pain, hemoptysis and cough since the procedure.

DISCUSSION:

Broncholithiasis refers to calcified material eroding the tracheobronchial tree and causing inflammation and obstruction. Etiology of broncholiths include calcified peribronchiolar lymph nodes that erode into the airway lumen. Lymph node calcifications in the thorax are associated with lymphadenitis from fungal or mycobacterial infections. Management depends on the size of broncholiths. For larger stones, flexible bronchoscopy is often used to confirm diagnosis. When forceps extraction is not feasible, stone fragmentation with HoYAG is generally utilized, but they carry the risk of massive hemoptysis or bronchial injury. Surgical interventions, such as lobectomy or pneumonectomy, are reserved for patients with recurrent pneumonias, bronchiectasis, bronchial stenosis or broncho-esophageal or aorto-tracheal fistulas. In our case, we demonstrate successful reduction of a non-mobile broncholith by protecting the airway using rigid bronchoscopy by interventional pulmonology and subsequently avoiding surgical intervention in a patient with repeated post-obstructive pneumonia.

CONCLUSIONS:

Management of broncholiths should be individualized for symptomatic patients. A comprehensive assessment with appropriate imaging and involvement of interventional pulmonology can result in successful reduction of the stone and minimizing complications. Reference #1 Dakkak, M., Siddiqi, F., & Cury, J. D. (2015). Broncholithiasis presenting as bronchiectasis and recurrent pneumonias. Case Reports, 2015, bcr2014209035. Reference #2 Krishnan, S., Kniese, C. M., Mankins, M., Heitkamp, D. E., Sheski, F. D., & Kesler, K. A. (2018).Management of broncholithiasis. Journal of thoracic disease, 10(Suppl 28), S3419. Reference #3 Olson, E. J., Utz, J. P., & Prakash, U. B. (1999). Therapeutic bronchoscopy in broncholithiasis. American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine, 160(3), 766-770 DISCLOSURES No relevant relationships by Jalal Damani No relevant relationships by Joseph Gatuz No relevant relationships by Fereshteh (Angel) Yazdi
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Full text: Available Collection: Databases of international organizations Database: EMBASE Language: English Journal: Chest Year: 2022 Document Type: Article

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Full text: Available Collection: Databases of international organizations Database: EMBASE Language: English Journal: Chest Year: 2022 Document Type: Article