Kolkata: In a major advancement for respiratory care in Eastern India, 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, offering patients instant relief without the need for conventional open surgery.
Advanced Interventional Pulmonology is a rapidly evolving super-specialty that focuses on minimally invasive diagnostic and therapeutic procedures for complex airway, lung, and pleural diseases. These techniques provide effective alternatives to traditional surgery and are often performed with shorter recovery time and reduced complications.
The hospital’s dedicated Interventional Pulmonology team—comprising Dr. Subhankar Chakraborty, Dr. Deboprasad Das, and Dr. Riksoam Chatterjee—managed both critical cases, which are considered extremely rare in Eastern India.
Tumour Blocking Airway Removed, Collapsed Lung Restored
The first case involved a 62-year-old woman from Jharkhand who initially visited the OPD with complaints of progressive breathlessness, dry cough with streaky hemoptysis, and severe left-sided chest pain for nearly three months. Her condition worsened rapidly while waiting for consultation and she had to be rushed to the emergency department as she struggled to breathe.
After detailed clinical and radiological evaluation, videobronchoscopy revealed a bulky tumour completely obstructing the left main bronchus, leading to total collapse of the left lung.
Following discussion with family members and obtaining informed consent, the patient was posted for rigid bronchoscopy under general anaesthesia. In a meticulously executed procedure, the expert pulmonology team successfully removed the tumour in toto and restored the airway.
Post-procedure results were immediate and dramatic—the left main bronchus reopened fully, the collapsed lung re-expanded, and the patient experienced instant relief in breathing.
Doctors stated that prolonged lung collapse could have resulted in irreversible damage. The timely use of rigid bronchoscopy, a minimally invasive operative procedure used to treat central airway obstruction, proved lifesaving. The technique is commonly used for removing tumours, foreign bodies, controlling life-threatening bleeding and placing airway stents.
Advanced Bronchoscopic Tumour Removal in COPD Patient
In the second case, a 69-year-old man from Midnapore with a history of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and heavy smoking presented with breathlessness and chest discomfort.
A low-dose CT thorax revealed a suspicious spiculated nodule in the right upper lobe along with a pedunculated intrabronchial growth in the left upper lobe. Subsequent FDG Digital PET-CT scan showed significant SUV uptake, raising strong suspicion of malignancy.
Bronchoscopic evaluation by the Interventional Pulmonology team revealed complete occlusion of the anterior segment of the left upper lobe bronchus by a sessile pedunculated endobronchial tumour.
Using advanced bronchoscopic techniques, the team successfully removed the entire tumour en bloc using a bronchoscopic snare with electrocautery. Adequate haemostasis was achieved, resulting in complete recanalisation of the airway.
Additionally, a radial EBUS (Endobronchial Ultrasound) catheter-guided biopsy was taken from the right upper lobe lung nodule for further pathological diagnosis.
The patient tolerated the procedure well, remained stable post-intervention and is currently doing well with significant symptomatic improvement.
24-Hour Respiratory Emergency Support
Ruby General Hospital maintains a 24×7 respiratory management team with round-the-clock availability of trained Interventional Pulmonologists capable of handling complex airway emergencies.
Hospital authorities emphasised that even mild respiratory symptoms—such as persistent cough, unexplained breathlessness, chest discomfort, or coughing up blood—should never be ignored.
“Early diagnosis and timely intervention can prevent life-threatening complications. With modern technology like rigid bronchoscopy and EBUS, many complex lung conditions can now be treated without open surgery,” the team stated.
With these successful interventions, Ruby General Hospital continues to strengthen its position as a leading centre for advanced respiratory and minimally invasive pulmonary care in Eastern India.
Public Advisory: Individuals experiencing persistent respiratory discomfort are urged to seek medical consultation promptly. Early treatment can make the difference between crisis and cure.
