다양한 원인으로 인해서 발생하는 기관지흉막루는 일차적인 치료에 반응이 없을 경우에는 수술적 치료를 고려해야 하나, 대부분 환자들의 양호하지 못한 전신 상태로 인하여 수술을 시행할 수 없는 경우가 많다. 이런 경우 굴곡형 기관지내시경을 이용한 치료가 시행될 수 있는 데, 저자 등은 농흉이 동반된 괴사성 폐렴 및 폐농양 환자에서, 흉관 삽관 후에 발생한 말단부 기관지흉막루를 기관지내시경을 이용한 Gelfoam 폐쇄로 치료한 1례가 있어 보고하는 바이다.
A 58-year-old man was admitted after suffering dyspnea and pleuritic chest pain on his right side for one week. A chest X-ray revealed necrotizing pneumonia and a lung abscess on right upper lobe. Despite of antibiotics and supportive care, a complicated parapneumonic effusion developed on his right side. Closed thoracostomy was performed for drainage. However, after the thoracostomy, a bronchopleural fistula (BPF) occurred with a continuous air leak. After 30 days intensive therapy, the underlying necrotizing pneumonia and lung abscess resolved, but the BPF continued. Bronchoscopic treatment was performed because the patient was a poor candidate for surgery. After localizing the BPF with a systemic occlusion of the segmental bronchi, small strips of Gelfoam were placed in the suction channel of the flexible bronchoscopy, and either flushed with a saline solution or inserted with forceps until the cessation of air leak. The patient was discharged 10 days after the bronchoscopic treatment.
