Abstract
We report a patient with post-bronchial-tuberculosis bronchostenosis in whom bronchoscopic dilatation with a balloon catheter was successfully performed. The patient was an 18-year old female who had pulmonary tuberculosis at left S6 and bronchial tuberculosis of the left main bronchus. As a result of chemotherapy, the tuberculosis became inactive, but stenosis (needle eye size) of the left main bronchus (about 1.8 cm in length) immediately below the bifurcation of the trachea remained. We performed bronchoscopic dilation of the bronchus with a balloon catheter for vascular dilation. Observation of the patient's progress for more than 2 years revealed no restenosis with an internal diameter of 67 mm maintained. The results of objective examinations including blood gas analysis, respiratory function test, and lung perfusion scintigraphy were also no better than the result of the conventional surgical treatment. We feel that this technique can be indicated in the treatment of tuberculous bronchial stenosis if the focus is limited to the main bronchus and, that consideration be given to it before attempting surgical treatment.
