Demonstrating excellence in cutting-edge respiratory care, the Department of Pulmonology & Respiratory Medicine at Ruby General Hospital has successfully carried out two rare and life-saving Advanced Interventional Pulmonology procedures over the past month. These minimally invasive interventions provided immediate relief to patients facing critical airway obstruction and suspected lung malignancy—without the need for open surgery.
Advanced Interventional Pulmonology is an emerging specialty focused on minimally invasive diagnosis and treatment of complex airway, lung, and pleural disorders. By offering alternatives to conventional surgery, these procedures reduce hospital stay, complications, and recovery time while ensuring precise therapeutic outcomes.
The hospital’s specialized Interventional Pulmonology team—Dr. Subhankar Chakraborty, Dr. Deboprasad Das, and Dr. Riksoam Chatterjee—led both procedures, which are considered extremely rare in Eastern India.
Critical Airway Obstruction Reversed in 62-Year-Old Patient
In the first case, a 62-year-old woman from Jharkhand reported progressive breathing difficulty, persistent dry cough with occasional hemoptysis, and severe left-sided chest pain for three months. Her condition worsened suddenly, and she required emergency admission as she struggled to breathe.
Comprehensive clinical and radiological evaluation, followed by videobronchoscopy, revealed a bulky tumor completely blocking the left main bronchus, causing total collapse of the left lung. With informed consent from her family, the medical team performed a rigid bronchoscopy under general anaesthesia.
Using advanced techniques, the pulmonologists carefully removed the obstructing tumor and restored the airway. The previously collapsed lung re-expanded immediately after the procedure, bringing instant symptomatic relief. Doctors emphasized that prolonged lung collapse could have led to irreversible damage.
Rigid bronchoscopy, a minimally invasive yet powerful therapeutic tool, enables direct visualization and removal of central airway obstructions such as tumors, strictures, and foreign bodies, while also allowing control of life-threatening bleeding and stent placement when required.
Precision Treatment for Suspected Lung Cancer in 69-Year-Old Man
The second case involved a 69-year-old man from Midnapore with a history of COPD and heavy smoking. He presented with breathlessness and chest discomfort. A low-dose CT scan revealed a suspicious spiculated nodule in the right upper lobe along with a pedunculated growth in the left upper lobe. An FDG PET-CT scan further showed significant metabolic activity, raising strong suspicion of malignancy.
Bronchoscopic evaluation confirmed that the anterior segment of the left upper lobe bronchus was completely obstructed by a sessile endobronchial tumor. The Interventional Pulmonology team successfully removed the entire growth en bloc using a bronchoscopic snare with electrocautery. Effective hemostasis was achieved, and the airway was fully recanalised.
Additionally, a radial EBUS-guided biopsy was performed on the right upper lobe nodule to facilitate early and accurate diagnosis. The patient remained stable after the procedure and has shown marked symptomatic improvement.
Round-the-Clock Respiratory Expertise
With a 24×7 respiratory emergency response system and dedicated Interventional Pulmonologists available round the clock, Ruby General Hospital continues to strengthen its commitment to advanced, minimally invasive respiratory care.
Hospital authorities expressed confidence that early referral and timely intervention can significantly improve patient outcomes, transforming life-threatening emergencies into manageable conditions and offering renewed hope to patients across Eastern India.
