PMC9213246_01
High-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) and bronchial thermoplasty (BT) findings; HRCT showed bronchial wall thickening and infiltrative shadows at the right inferior lobe before the first BT (A, B, C). Endobronchial inspection during the first BT procedure was significant for a large amount of yellow secretion in the right inferior lobe (D). HRCT performed after three BT sessions showed a decrease in bronchial wall thickness and disappearance of infiltrative shadows in the right inferior lobe (E, F, G). Endobronchial inspection during the third BT procedure did not show purulent sputum in the right inferior lobe (H). . (For interpretation of the references to colour in this figure legend, the reader is referred to the Web version of this article.)
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CT showed bronchial wall thickening in all the bronchi and infiltrative shadows in the right lower lobe before the first BT (Fig. 1A, B, C). Endobronchial inspection during the first BT procedure was significant for large amounts of yellow secretions in all bronchi, that grew Pseudomonas aeruginosa on culture (Fig. 1D). CT showed a decrease in bronchial wall thickness in all bronchi, and disappearance of infiltrative shadows in the right inferior lobe after the three BT sessions (Fig. 1E, F, G). The amount of purulent sputum in all the bronchi decreased after the third BT session (Fig. 1H).
Time course of % post-bronchodilator forced expiratory volume in 1.0 s (%FEV1), cumulative sputum volume, results of sputum bacterial culture, and clarithromycin treatment; Pulmonary function improved after the third bronchial thermoplasty (BT) session. Cumulative sputum volume and results of sputum bacterial culture for Pseudomonas aeruginosa improved after the third BT session.
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The amount of sputum in 24 hours was 17 g after the first BT session, decreasing to 9 g after the second session and 5 g after the third session (Fig. 2).