Selective fiberoptic left main-stem intubation to treat bronchial laceration in an extremely low birth weight neonate

A neonate born at 24 weeks gestation developed a right tension pneumothorax that persisted despite the placement of multiple thoracostomy tubes, the use of high-frequency ventilation and postural therapy. On day-of-life 11, bedside bronchoscopy revealed a laceration at the junction of the trachea and right main-stem bronchus. Under fiberoptic guidance the left main-stem bronchus was intubated. Single-lung ventilation then was employed for 24 h, after which time the pneumothorax never recurred. We postulate that the diversion of positive-pressure ventilation away from the laceration site allowed the surrounding injury-induced granulation tissue to create a seal and facilitate closure of the defect.