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Case Reports
. 2019 Nov;7(22):701.
doi: 10.21037/atm.2019.09.74.

Successful use of an EZ-blocker for lung isolation and management in a hemoptysis patient

Joo Hyung Son  1 , Do Hyung Kim  1 , Sung Kwang Lee  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

Successful use of an EZ-blocker for lung isolation and management in a hemoptysis patient

Joo Hyung Son et al. Ann Transl Med. 2019 Nov.

Abstract

When massive hemoptysis develops suddenly, patients typically die due to hypovolemia or airway obstruction. Intubation, endobronchial blocking, and elimination of blood clots are urgently required. However, existing double-lumen tubes and single endobronchial balloon systems are inadequate. We herein report successful EZ-blocker-mediated one-lung ventilation of a patient with a massive hemoptysis who required emergency life-saving surgery.

Keywords: EZ-blocker; Hemoptysis; lung isolation.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of Interest: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Schematic diagram of EZ-blocker insertion. (A) An endotracheal tube was inserted because blood clots blocked both main bronchi; (B) an EZ-blocker was inserted via the endotracheal tube, and the right-sided balloon was inflated to block the right main bronchus; (C) a bronchoscope was inserted into the left main bronchus to remove blood clots; (D) finally, the left lung was well-ventilated.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Bronchoscopy revealed that the right main bronchus was completely blocked by the balloon and the left bronchus contained a “de-ballooned” catheter.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Chest computed tomography (CT) after insertion of EZ blocker. (A) Chest CT revealed that the right main bronchus was blocked by the EZ-blocker balloon; (B) the cavitary lesion of the right lower lobe exhibited extravasation of the contrast medium, raising suspicion of a pseudoaneurysm.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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