Thorax
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Case Reports
Bronchial obstruction due to respiratory mucosal sloughing in toxic epidermal necrolysis.
A 17 year old woman is described who nearly asphyxiated because of sloughing of the bronchial mucosa as a result of toxic epidermal necrolysis. Bronchoscopic aspiration of bronchial slough proved life saving.
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Significant morbidity and mortality result from the ineffective evacuation of empyema. Failure of conventional first line treatment with closed intercostal tube drainage and antibiotic therapy may result in fibrin deposition and loculated empyema. Enzymatic debridement using intrapleural instillation of streptokinase is a non-invasive therapeutic option which may obviate the need for surgical intervention. ⋯ Intrapleural streptokinase is an effective adjunct in the management of complicated empyema and may reduce the need for surgery.