Endobronchial Watanabe Spigots for Treatment of Pyopneumothorax due to Nontuberculous Mycobacteriosis in a Patient with Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Case Report Based on Past Experience

Abstract

Nontuberculous mycobacterial lung disease sometimes causes pneumothorax and empyema, which are often intractable because of patients’ background factors. Biological products used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis have caused the problem of an increase in infection rates as a side effect, one of which is nontuberculous mycobacteriosis (NTM). On the basis of past experience, we report the case of a patient who had a history of undergoing treatment with biological products against rheumatoid arthritis. The patient was treated for NTM-induced pyopneumothorax by endoscopic bronchial occlusion therapy using endobronchial Watanabe spigots.