Post-tubercular bronchopleural fistula with tension hydropneumothorax: a rare case and its management and diagnostic challenges in a low-income country: a case report.
4 affiliations
- 1Department of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, Haramaya University, Harar, Ethiopia. [email protected].
- 2Department of Intensive care Medicine, St. Paul's Hospital Millennium Medical College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. [email protected].
- 3Department of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, St. Paul's Hospital Millennium Medical College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
- 4Department of Internal Medicine, St. Paul's Hospital Millennium Medical College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Abstract
Background
A bronchopleural fistula (BPF) accompanied by tension hydropneumothorax is a rare but potentially life-threatening complication of tuberculosis, posing significant diagnostic and treatment challenges. Effective management requires a multidisciplinary approach, particularly when there are additional concurrent infections involved.Case presentation
A 28-year-old Black Ethiopian male with no significant past medical history presented to the emergency department with a 1-week exacerbation of shortness of breath, alongside a 2-month history of productive cough, weight loss, and night sweats. He was diagnosed with tuberculosis via GeneXpert testing and subsequently bronchopleural fistula complicated by hydropneumothorax with imaging. Management consisted of chest tube drainage, intravenous antibiotic therapy, and standard first-line antitubercular treatment. The patient showed significant improvement and was discharged in stable condition.Conclusion
This case highlights a rare complication of cavitary tuberculosis and demonstrates that bronchopleural fistula can be successfully managed with nonsurgical approaches, resulting in clinical recovery and lung re-expansion, while also providing insights into diagnostic and management strategies.
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BibTeX
@article{wakoya2026posttubercular,
title = {{Post-tubercular bronchopleural fistula with tension hydropneumothorax: a rare case and its management and diagnostic challenges in a low-income country: a case report.}},
author = {Amanuel Dagabas Wakoya and Ayto Addisu Negash and Fitsum Negusse Assefa},
journal = {Journal of medical case reports},
year = {2026},
month = jul,
doi = {10.1186/s13256-026-06408-x},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42928330},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Post-tubercular bronchopleural fistula with tension hydropneumothorax: a rare case and its management and diagnostic challenges in a low-income country: a case report.
AU - Amanuel Dagabas Wakoya
AU - Ayto Addisu Negash
AU - Fitsum Negusse Assefa
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/07/29
JO - Journal of medical case reports
DO - 10.1186/s13256-026-06408-x
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42928330
AB - Background A bronchopleural fistula (BPF) accompanied by tension hydropneumothorax is a rare but potentially life-threatening complication of tuberculosis, posing significant diagnostic and treatment challenges. Effective management requires a multidisciplinary approach, particularly when there are additional concurrent infections involved.Case presentation A 28-year-old Black Ethiopian male with no significant past medical history presented to the emergency department with a 1-week exacerbation of shortness of breath, alongside a 2-month history of productive cough, weight loss, and night sweats. He was diagnosed with tuberculosis via GeneXpert testing and subsequently bronchopleural fistula complicated by hydropneumothorax with imaging. Management consisted of chest tube drainage, intravenous antibiotic therapy, and standard first-line antitubercular treatment. The patient showed significant improvement and was discharged in stable condition.Conclusion This case highlights a rare complication of cavitary tuberculosis and demonstrates that bronchopleural fistula can be successfully managed with nonsurgical approaches, resulting in clinical recovery and lung re-expansion, while also providing insights into diagnostic and management strategies.
SN - 1752-1947
ER -