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VOL. 1, ISSUE 1 (2025)
Postoperative pulmonary atelectasis due to bronchial adenoma: A rare case report
Authors
Ranjeet Malhotra
Abstract
This case report
describes the rare occurrence of significant postoperative pulmonary
atelectasis caused by an undiagnosed bronchial adenoma. The purpose is to
highlight this unusual etiology for a common postoperative complication and
emphasize the importance of preoperative diagnostic thoroughness. The paper
details the case of a patient who underwent major abdominal surgery and
subsequently developed persistent right middle and lower lobe atelectasis that
was refractory to standard chest physiotherapy and bronchoscopic suctioning.
Computed tomography (CT) and follow-on bronchoscopy revealed an obstructing tumor
in the right main bronchus, which was identified as a bronchial adenoma
(carcinoid type) upon histological examination. The methods involved include
clinical examination, imaging (chest X-ray and CT), bronchoscopy, and
histopathological analysis. The results confirmed that the tumor was the
primary cause of the bronchial obstruction leading to postoperative lung
collapse. In conclusion, this case underscores that while postoperative
atelectasis is frequently attributed to mucus plugging or diaphragmatic
splinting, rare causes like endobronchial tumors must be considered in the
differential diagnosis, particularly when atelectasis is persistent and lobar
in distribution, to avoid delayed diagnosis and management of the underlying
pathology.
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Pages:1-5
How to cite this article:
Ranjeet Malhotra "Postoperative pulmonary atelectasis due to bronchial adenoma: A rare case report". World Journal of Medicine Research , Vol 1, Issue 1, 2025, Pages 1-5
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