Tuberc Respir Dis.
2013 Nov;75(5):222-224.
A Case of Bilateral Giant Bullae in Young Adult
- Affiliations
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- 1Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine and Lung Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
- 2Department of Thoracic Surgery, Seoul Metropolitan Government Seoul National University Boramae Medical Center, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
- 3Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul Metropolitan Government Seoul National University Boramae Medical Center, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. kimdkmd@snu.ac.kr
Abstract
- Giant bullae are large bullae occupying at least one-third of the hemithorax and surgical bullectomy is the treatment of choice. We report a case with symptomatic giant bullae which were resected successfully. A 35-year-old man presented with bilateral giant bullae that occupied almost the entire left hemithorax and a third of the right hemithorax. He was a current smoker with a 30 pack-year history and he presented with dyspnea on exertion. An elective surgical bullectomy was performed with video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. The patient recovered without any adverse events and stayed well for 1 month after surgery.
Keyword
Figure
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Figure 1 Representative chest radiographies. (A) Bilateral giant bullae occupying almost the entire left hemithorax and a third of the right thorax; preoperative period. (B) Postoperative period. (C) Follow-up 1 month after surgery.
Figure 2 Intraoperative findings. (A) Giant bulla at the left upper lobe apex. (B) Atelectasis left lower lobe.
Reference
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