Two-Staged Bronchoscopic Lung Volume Reduction: A Single US Academic Center Retrospective Analysis Demonstrating Reduction in Pneumothorax.

Staged Bronchoscopic lung volume reduction (BLVR) has been proposed to reduce the risk of pneumothorax in patients with emphysema, though evidence to date is limited. We present a retrospective series from a single US academic centre, evaluating pneumothorax and other complications following staged BLVR. Seventeen patients underwent staged BLVR at our centre. Two illustrative cases are presented: (1) a case of pneumothorax post-staged BLVR managed conservatively without chest tube insertion, and (2) a patient who initially developed pneumothorax after single-stage BLVR, subsequently completing staged BLVR without complications. Overall, the pneumothorax rate within 45 days was 11.8%, and none of the events required tube drainage or valve removal. This retrospective analysis suggests that staged BLVR may reduce the incidence of pneumothorax. Larger, randomised controlled trials are warranted to confirm these potential benefits.