Iatrogenic Delayed Pneumothorax After Transbronchial Biopsy

Transbronchial biopsy (TBB) is one of the commonly performed procedures by pulmonologists in everyday practice. Although the procedure has a very low-risk profile, complications often develop in certain patients. Pneumothorax is one such complication pertaining to TBB. As only a small percent of procedures get complicated by pneumothorax, handful of cases have been reported with its delayed occurrence in the past 5 decades. The purpose of our report is to highlight another uncommon yet interesting case of delayed iatrogenic pneumothorax in an immunocompromised patient after TBB. Although the chain of events behind the pathophysiology of delayed pneumothorax largely remain a mystery, its development has been linked to altered immune mechanics as they are frequently recognized in immunocompromised patients.

Hypoxia

The case illustrates the approach to an intubated patient on mechanical ventilation with desaturation and clinical deterioration. Included is a list of potential etiologies, including airway obstruction, pneumothorax, mucus plug/atelectasis, aspiration or infection, and pulmonary embolus as well as a description of how to systematically evaluate these patients. Various imaging modalities are reviewed, including the findings of a chest X-ray and results of a limited bedside ultrasound. The case highlights the potential development of a delayed pneumothorax or hemothorax, despite an initially normal chest radiograph, particularly with the addition of positive pressure ventilation. The case highlights the importance of the focused assessment with sonography for trauma (FAST) exam.