INTERVENTIONAL PULMONOLOGY TEAM RESTORES BREATHING IN COMPLEX LUNG CANCER CASE

A 64 year old senior citizen from North 24 Parganas had been admitted under the care of Dr. Deboprasad Das (Consultant Pulmonologist) with complaints of chronic cough and breathing distress for last four months. He was a known case of lung cancer and had undergone chemotherapy and radiotherapy. After evaluation and relevant investigation he was diagnosed with a right upper lobe lung tumor that had completely blocked the right upper lobe bronchus and extended into the right main bronchus, severely narrowing the air passages supplying the right middle and lower lobes, resulting in extensive airway obstruction which was causing significant dyspnoea (Difficulty in breathing) and persistant cough, substantially affecting the patient's quality of life. After discussion with the family members and with their informed and written consent the gentleman was posted for a highly specialized airway recanalization procedure under general anesthesia by the multidisciplinary Interventional Pulmonology team comprising of Dr. Deboprasad Das, Dr. Riksoam Chatterjee and Dr. Subhankar Chakraborty. Using rigid bronchoscopy, the team first mechanically removed the obstructing tumor tissue and dilated the narrowed airway. A self-expanding metallic stent (SEMS) was then precisely deployed under fluoroscopic (C-arm) guidance from the carina (A ridge of cartilage at the base of the windpipe (trachea) that splits into the right and left lungs) into the bronchus intermedius (A short airway in the right lung) achieving successful airway recanalization with restoration of patency and aeration of the right middle and right lower lobe bronchi. The post-procedure period was uneventful and evaluation confirmed excellent stent expansion and airway patency, with immediate re-establishment of distal airflow and significant relief of obstruction.

This successful intervention highlights the growing role of advanced Interventional Pulmonology in managing complex airway diseases and reflects the expertise, teamwork, and dedication of the Ruby Hospital Interventional Pulmonology Team in delivering cutting-edge, minimally invasive care to patients with critical airway conditions.

Advanced Airway Intervention. Restoring Breath. Restoring Hope.