Improvements in Exhaled Partial Pressure Carbon Dioxide After Interventional Bronchoscopy: Two Case Reports of Malignant and Benign Bronchial Obstruction.

Bronchial obstruction disrupts gas exchange, thus leading to a ventilation-perfusion mismatch. This report presents two cases demonstrating the utility of intrabronchial capnography in the management of airway obstruction. In case 1, stenting for recurrent lung cancer rapidly increased left lung perfusion from 13% to 59% with normalized carbon dioxide levels and improved imaging. In Case 2, tuberculosis-induced obstruction required secondary intervention, thus gradually increasing perfusion from 7% to 28% over time. Both cases highlighted the role of capnography in detecting airway collapse, assessing treatment efficacy, and optimizing management strategies. These findings emphasize the importance of enhancing the diagnostic precision and guiding interventions for bronchial obstructions.