Rigid bronchoscopy saves two precious lives

Vijayawada: Doctors at Manipal Hospitals, Vijayawada, have given a new lease of life to two critical patients by performing tracheal stenosis with electro surgery and balloon bronchoplasty, followed by silicon airway stenting through rigid bronchoscopy.

Addressing media on Thursday, interventional pulmonologist at the hospital Dr. Gutta Lokesh said a 25-year-old male patient had a history of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The patient had undergone tracheostomy and was put on ventilator for two weeks. He had severe stridor and breathlessness for a week and had high tracheal stenosis on CT neck and severe subglottic stenosis.

“We repaired the tracheal stenosis with electro surgery and balloon bronchoplasty, followed by silicon airway stenting through rigid bronchoscopy,” Dr. Lokesh underlined.

Dr. Uday Kiran of pulmonary medicine at the hospital said a 26-year-old male patient was admitted to ICU with multiple fractures. He suffered from severe stridor with respiratory distress. His evaluation showed pinhole tracheal stenosis and lower tracheal stenosis. The patient underwent rigid bronchoscopy, electrosurgical repair and balloon bronchoplasty, followed by silicon stenting under general anaesthesia.

Both the doctors underlined that people must be careful about keeping their lungs healthy.