title: Use of endobronchial valve insertion to treat relapsing pneumothorax: a case report and literature review.
abstract: Backgorund and Aims: Unidirectional endobronchial valves have recently been shown to be beneficial as treatment for persistent air leaks. This report presents a first case of endobronchial valve implantation to treat relapsing pneumothorax in a Chinese patient, and also presents a review of the literature on the use of one-way valve insertion for the treatment of persistent air leaks.
  
  
  METHODS
  The patient did undergo a recent but failed chest tube intervention. By bronchoscopy and using Chartis® system measurements, the upper left lobe (including the left apical bronchus) was closed using a catheter.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After the expected decrease in airflow following bronchial occlusion, increased air pressure and decreased spilled air were noted; it was concluded that the pneumothorax was located in the left upper lobe. A Zephyr®endobronchial valve was placed in the left upper apical bronchus. The health benefits of the procedure were noticed in the following days.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our review suggests that the use of endobronchial valves could be used as an effective, minimally invasive, low-risk intervention for patients with pneumothorax that cannot be treated surgically.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Fei
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Qi
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Qing
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Liang'an
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2534-0485
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Chunyan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Shu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Xingchen
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Binbin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Xiao
mesh_terms: D044466:Asian People; D001980:Bronchi / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D001999:Bronchoscopy / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D015505:Chest Tubes / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D019736:Prostheses and Implants / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012008:Recurrence; D015898:Tomography Scanners, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: bronchoscope - Chartis® Pulmonary Assessment System - endobronchial valve - pneumothorax - relapsing pneumothorax