Non-Traumatic Rib Fractures, Haemothorax And Chest Wall Hernia Associated With Excessive Coughing.

Haemothorax is presence of blood in pleural cavity and is usually caused by chest trauma. Spontaneous rib fractures leading to haemothorax due to excessive coughing has seldom been described in the literature. We report an unusual case with asthma exacerbation who developed intense coughing followed by chest pain, breathlessness, and widespread bruising, without trauma or coagulopathy.

Utility of thoracic computed tomography to predict need for early surgery and recurrence after first episode of primary spontaneous pneumothorax.

Introduction: CT imaging is not advocated by British Thoracic Society guidelines after first episode of primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP). There is emerging evidence that emphysema-like changes and CT-based dystrophy severity score (DSS) can predict need for early surgery and recurrence.

Objectives: We aimed to assess the role of DSS during first episodes of PSP in predicting the need for early surgery and recurrence.

Atypical presentation of cystic fibrosis at 70 years of age.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an autosomal recessive condition, mostly diagnosed in infancy. It is uncommon for adults to be diagnosed with CF, especially after the age of 65. Individuals, who are diagnosed later in life, usually have milder disease and single organ involvement which can be challenging for clinicians to diagnose.

Empyema thoracis secondary to community-acquired Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) methicillin-resistant (MRSA) infection.

We report a case of a previously fit middle-aged man presenting to the outpatient setting with unilateral pleural effusion, with minimal symptoms. On subsequent investigations, he was diagnosed with empyema thoracis secondary to Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL)-toxin positive community-acquired methicillin-resistant (MRSA). The patient was treated with prolonged antibiotics and pleural drainage, and he remained haemodynamically stable throughout hospital admission.

How should complete lung collapse secondary to primary spontaneous pneumothorax be managed? .

Management of primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP) depends on the symptoms and size of lung collapse. The British Thoracic Society recommends needle aspiration (NA) for all PSP requiring intervention, followed by intercostal drain (ICD) if NA fails. We compared the role of NA versus ICD as the first step in PSP with 'complete lung collapse'.

Unusual case of bilateral haemotympanum after endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial fine needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA).

We present a case of bilateral haemotympanum (HT) during endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial fine needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA). A 64 year-old-man underwent EBUS-TBNA for mediastinal lymph nodes (LN) staging. Medical history included emphysema and angina.

Massive haemoptysis secondary to mycotic pulmonary artery aneurysm in subacute invasive aspergillosis.

A 68-year-old man, presented with 3 week history of infective symptoms and mild haemoptysis. Past medical history included severe emphysema and a chronic right upper lobe (RUL) cavity. He was discharged from follow-up a year ago in view of clinical and radiological stability; previous bronchoscopic examinations yielded no specific diagnosis.

Unusual case of hemidiaphragmatic paralysis secondary to cervical herpes zoster.

Hemidiaphragmatic paralysis is usually caused by surgery, malignancy or trauma and rarely by viral infections. Herpes zoster (shingles) results in varied neurological complications, but peripheral motor involvement or diaphragmatic paralysis is rare. We report the case of an 87-year-old male who presented with worsening breathlessness soon after an episode of shingles, affecting his right neck and upper chest.