[Thoracoscopic surgery for the giant bulla complicating pulmonary eosinophilic granuloma: a case report]

We report a case of pulmonary eosinophilic granuloma (PEG) accompanied with a giant bulla successfully operated with a thoracoscopy. A 24-year-old female had been suffering from recurrent bilateral pneumothoraces with multiple bullae since February 1993. She was diagnosed as PEG with an open lung biopsy in July 1994. Repetitive pleurodesis were efficacious against the pneumothoraces. However, a bulla in the left upper lobe were growing with her respiratory function having worsened to bed rest. In May 1995, thoracoscopic surgery were performed to extinguish the bulla. Trocars were directly introduced into the lumen of the bulla. Ligation of the three communicating bronchial branches and tube drainage made the bulla disappear immediately. The patient had been well for one and a half year postoperatively.