Use of emergency rigid bronchoscopy to reduce tumour mass prior to surgical resection

Two patients with lung adenocarcinoma developed acute respiratory failure as a result of unilateral lung collapse. They were successfully treated by tumour de-bulking using a rigid brochoscope and subsequent radical sleeve lobectomy. Case 1 was a 46-year-old man whose carcinoma was pathological stage IIIb (P-T4N2M0), and he remains tumour-free 39 months after the surgery. Case 2 was a 79-year-old man whose carcinoma was pathological stage IIb (P-T3N0M0). Following treatment, he was able to resume his daily activities, however, his tumour recurred and he died 5 months after the surgery. Debulking of tumours with a rigid bronchoscope was useful for improving patients' quality of life and for the subsequent multidisciplinary treatment of lung carcinoma.