Traumatic pneumatocele (TP) is a rare, benign pulmonary lesion that primarily affects children and young adults following blunt chest trauma. We present the case of a 16-year-old male judo athlete who developed persistent hemoptysis. Imaging identified a large hydropneumothorax. During video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery, a cystic lesion was discovered in the left lower lobe, and intraoperative bronchofibroscopy revealed a minor bronchopleural fistula. A wedge resection was performed, resulting in an uncomplicated recovery; the patient was discharged on postoperative day 2. This case underscores the rarity of complicated TP necessitating surgical intervention and highlights the importance of considering TP in young patients with blunt chest trauma.
Hwang et al. (Thu,) studied this question.