Giant Bronchial Polyp Treated by Emergency Thoracotomy

An unusual giant bronchial polyp of the right upper lobe is reported which produced sudden life-threatening airway obstruction in a man who had become dyspneic shortly before admission. The pedunculated tumor had suddenly prolapsed into the opposite stem bronchus. Immediate thoracotomy without prior endoscopic examination was chosen deliberately to avoid further compromise of the already dangerously limited airway. The course and management are described in detail and the etiology of this lesion is discussed. To our knowledge such a giant bronchial polyp has not been reported previously.