Three cases of pneumonia and two cases of pulmonry abscess that were treated by local aspiration of purulent accumulation under bronchoscopy are reported.
Although it has generally been regarded that bronchoscopic examination is not adequate in cases with pneumonia, the authors demonstrated that local aspiration of purulent accumulation in the lungs by means of a fine, vinyl tubing under bronchoscopy, as a method of active treatment of pneumonia or pulmonary abscess, was beneficial in improving the course of the diseases.
The authors encourage the wide use of bronchoscopic procedures in cases, with pulmonary diseases including pneumonia as they are very efficacious in the treatment of pneumonia as in differential diagnosis of lung diseases.