Endobronchial valve implantation in treatment of refractory pneumothorax in 2 cases and literature review

Objective To report the effects of endobronchial valve implantation in the treatment to refractory pneumothorax. Methods Two cases with refractory pneumothorax who were treated with endobronchial valve implantation in our hospital from July 2012 to July 2015 were collected. Case 1:A 49-year-old male patient was admitted to the hospital for chest congestion and shortness of breath for one month, with a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and he received closed pleural drainage for three times for pneumothorax. The chest X-ray showed left pneumothorax, and pleural leakage still remained after closed pleural drainage. Case 2:A 30-year-old male patient was admitted to the hospital for chest pain for one month and dyspnea for 12 days. Pleural leakage still remained after closed pleural drainage. Two patients with sustainable pleural leakage were treated with endobronchial valve implantation using Chartis system measurements to place the valve in the targeted lobe bronchus. Results The patients were follow-up checked one month after treatment, and the results showed that the leak ports were closed with pneumatos being absorbed. Conclusion Endobronchial valve implantation is one of the minimally invasive methods to treat refractory pneumothorax, which is worthy of wide application.