Das Leck in der Lunge: Bronchoskopische Ventil- implantation zur Behandlung einer persistierenden bronchopleuralen Fistel A Leak in the Lung: Endobronchial One-Way Valve Placement as Treatment for a Persistent Bronchopleural Fistula

Patients with bronchopleural fistula are at an in- creased risk of morbidity and mortality. Treat- ment of the air leak includes intrathoracic drain- age, antibiotic therapy and closure of the fistula, which conventionally has been performed via surgical means. In patients with limited respira- tory capacity, less-invasive alternatives are re- quired. Here we report on a 62-year-old patient with underlying severe COPD, who was admitted with a lung abscess and consecutively developed a persistent bronchopleural fistula. Treatment in- volved antibiotic therapy and endobronchial one- way valve placement, which resulted in termina- tion of the air leak and full recovery.