Emergent lung separation for management of pulmonary artery rupture.

Abstract

PULMONARY artery (PA) rupture is an unusual but often lethal complication associated with pulmonary artery catheterization. 1,2 Management of PA rupture may include lung isolation in patients requiring intubation to protect the contralateral lung and to decrease bleeding in the affected lung. Inasmuch as some airway bleeding is inevitably present, the mechanics of achieving lung isolation can be difficult using fiberoptic bronchoscopy. This case report describes an innovative, available technique that can facilitate lung isolation. We intubated the left mainstem bronchus in a patient with a ruptured right PA and copious airway blood using a technique combining bronchoscopy and fluoroscopy.