Bronchoscopic Instillation of DNase to Manage Refractory Lobar Atelectasis in a Lung Cancer Patient

Authors

Hussein AssallumFollow
Tian Yue Song, New York Medical College
Lawrence DeLorenzo, New York Medical CollegeFollow
Kassem Harris, New York Medical CollegeFollow

DOI

10.21037/atm.2019.05.15

Journal Title

Annals of Translational Medicine

First Page

363

Document Type

Case Report

Publication Date

August 2019

Department

Medicine

Keywords

Recombinant human deoxyribonuclease I (rhDNase), lobar atelectasis, lung cancer

Disciplines

Medicine and Health Sciences

Abstract

Lobar atelectasis is a common complication in lung cancer. It can be caused by direct endobronchial tumorous seeding or indirectly by mucus plugs due to bacterial lung infections. Treatment is usually conservative, with or without therapeutic bronchoscopy. Dornase alfa is a recombinant human deoxyribonuclease I (rhDNase), an enzyme that selectively cleaves DNA, thus reducing mucous viscosity. rhDNase has been used as a mucolytic agent in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. Though bronchoscopically instilled rhDNase has been reported as a treatment for persistent lobar atelectasis in newborn and pediatric populations, its use in adults has not been well established.

Recommended Citation

Assallum, H., Song, T., DeLorenzo, L., & Harris, K. (2019). Bronchoscopic Instillation of DNase to Manage Refractory Lobar Atelectasis in a Lung Cancer Patient. Annals of Translational Medicine, 7 (15), 363. https://doi.org/10.21037/atm.2019.05.15