The Utility of Point-of-Care Ultrasound for Post-Bronchoscopy Pneumothorax Evaluation

Abstract

We present a case of a 65-year-old female with a prior history of B-cell lymphoma with new CT chest findings of a nodule requiring an electromagnetic navigational bronchoscopy with transbronchial biopsies. Post-bronchoscopy, the patient complained of dyspnea and left scapular pain despite two normal anterior-posterior chest X-rays. Point-of-care ultrasound of the lung demonstrated a lack of lung sliding, which was confirmed via a right lateral decubitus chest X-ray. This case illustrates the utility and superiority of lung point-of-care ultrasound while highlighting the limitations of conventional imaging modalities in a post-bronchoscopy evaluation.

Keywords: electromagnetic navigation; fiberoptic flexible bronchoscopy; lung biopsy; pneumothorax ptx; pocus (point of care ultrasound); pulmonary critical care; pulmonary disease.