A team of doctors at the Aayush Hospitals successfully closed a Bronchopleural Fistula (BPF) using the minimal invasive bronchoscopy .
Interventional pulmonologist M.S. Gopala Krishna, who headed the team, said Aayush was the only hospital in Andhra Pradesh that was doing the complicated procedure. It had done five BPF closures till now. In the last case minimal invasive bronchoscopy was used.
BPF was an abnormal connection between the Bronchial tree (inside part of the lung) and the pleura (the layer which forms a case around the lungs). The fistula (connection) could be earmarked by bubbling air through an intercostal catheter for 24 hours, bronchoscopy and a CT Scan of the chest, he said.
The patient recovered and was ready for discharge, the specialist said.
There were several causes for the formation of this abnormal connection. BPF is formed as a complication after severe chest infection or trauma, mechanical ventilation, radiotherapy or lobectomy — removal of a part of the lung.
Generally the chest wall was opened to patch the leaks with muscle flaps. But in the latest case minimal invasive bronchoscopy was used and the leaks were patched up a special kind of bio-glue, Dr Gopala Krishna said.
Aayush hospitals MD and interventional cardiologist K. Gopala Krishna, chairman and anaesthesiologist Y. Ramesh Babu were present.
