title: Management of a giant fluid-filled bulla by closed-chest thoracostomy tube drainage.
abstract: A 53-year-old man was admitted to the hospital for management of pneumonia and a giant fluid-filled bulla. He appeared acutely ill and had persistent fever despite prolonged therapy with parenteral antibiotics and aggressive bronchial drainage. Percutaneous placement of an 8.5F catheter into the bulla enabled drainage of both fluid and air within the bulla and led to resolution of his symptoms within 24 h. This report demonstrates that drainage of giant fluid-filled bullae may lead to rapid resolution of symptoms and describes a novel management technique for this condition.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Minneapolis 55417, USA.
authors.forename: L S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Kirschner
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Stauffer
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Krenzel
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Duane
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D015505:Chest Tubes; D004322:Drainage; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D011656:Pulmonary Emphysema / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D013907:Thoracostomy; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed