Abstract

Vanishing lung syndrome is characterised by giant bullae that compress the underlying lung. Differentiating between bullous emphysema and pneumothorax and choosing the right treatment modality can be challenging. The present report describes a case of a giant pulmonary bulla in a young male patient. A 20-year-old male was admitted with complaints of shortness of breath, chest pain, sweating, and tachycardia. Chest X-ray and chest CT images revealed the presence of giant bullae occupying the left hemithorax and pneumothorax. A chest tube was inserted percutaneously under local anesthesia into the pleural cavity and then we performed bullectomy using thoracoscopic surgery. Residual lung re-expansion yielded good postoperative results without complications. It can be very difficult to distinguish a pneumothorax from a giant bulla and preoperative assessment of the extent and distribution of the bullae is vital for the following procedures.

Key words: Giant Bulla; Pulmonary Emphysema; Pneumothorax.