Long-Term Follow-Up of Intralobar Bullae After Endobronchial Valve Treatment for Emphysema.

Endoscopic lung volume reduction using unidirectional endobronchial valves is a new technique in the treatment of patients with severe emphysema. However, the movements of the thoracic structures after endobronchial valves insertion are still unpredictable We report the unusual outcome of six patients after valves insertion in the left upper lobe. They all developed a complete atelectasis of the target lobe, a pneumothorax and sequential genuine bullae in the treated left lung of unknown etiology. The chest CT scan prior to the valves insertion was unremarkable. Three patients developed an air-liquid level in the bullae the day before a bacterial infection of their left lower lobe. The three other patients had an uneventful spontaneous resolution of their bullae at long-term follow-up. Therefore, a conservative attitude should be followed in this particular setting.

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© 2022 Taton et al.

Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts

OT, BB, KC, OM and DL have no conflicts of interest in this work. VH reports grants from Astra Zeneca, GlaxoSmithKline, Chiesi, and Boeringher Ingelheim, outside the submitted work. DJS is a physician-advisor and investigator for Pulmonx, CA, USA. PLS received lecture fees and is a consultant of Pulmonx, CA, USA.