title: Bronchopleural Fistula Resolution with Endobronchial Valve Placement and Liberation from Mechanical Ventilation in Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome: A Case Series.
abstract: Patients who have acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) with persistent air leaks have worse outcomes. Endobronchial valves (EBV) are frequently deployed after pulmonary resection in noncritically ill patients to reduce and eliminate bronchopleural fistulas (BPFs) with persistent air leak (PAL). Information regarding EBV placement in mechanically ventilated patients with ARDS and high volume persistent air leaks is rare and limited to case reports. We describe three cases where EBV placement facilitated endotracheal extubation in patients with severe respiratory failure on prolonged mechanical ventilation with BPFs. In each case, EBV placement led to immediate resolution of PAL. We believe endobronchial valve placement is a safe method treating persistent air leak with severe respiratory failure and may reduce days on mechanical ventilation.
authors.affiliation: Pulmonary Department, Byrd Clinical Center, Marshall University School of Medicine, 1249 15th Street, Huntington, WV 25701, USA.
authors.forename: Haris
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-9158-1351
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kalatoudis
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine Department, Marshall University School of Medicine, 1600 Medical Center Drive, Huntington, WV 25701, USA.
authors.forename: Meena
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-0225-1239
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nikhil
authors.affiliation: Pulmonary Department, Byrd Clinical Center, Marshall University School of Medicine, 1249 15th Street, Huntington, WV 25701, USA.
authors.forename: Fuad
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-5287-5691
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zeid
authors.affiliation: Pulmonary Department, Byrd Clinical Center, Marshall University School of Medicine, 1249 15th Street, Huntington, WV 25701, USA.
authors.forename: Yousef
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-2174-9785
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shweihat