Patient's question:
I have been coughing recently and have a lot of phlegm in my throat. After a thorough examination at the hospital, I was diagnosed with pulmonary bullae. The doctor recommended that I have surgery as soon as possible. I would like to be treated with medication. Do you have to have surgery if you have pulmonary bullae?Doctor's answer:
A bulla refers to bullous emphysema, which is a localized form of emphysema. The alveoli become highly inflated, and the alveolar walls rupture and merge with each other, forming this condition. It is generally caused by the functional obstruction of small ureters. In this case, if the symptoms are not significant, it is recommended to undergo strict treatment, primarily using a variety of antibiotics for anti-inflammatory treatment to alleviate respiratory symptoms.If the difficulty in breathing is relatively severe, it is advisable to consult a thoracic surgeon at a Class III-A hospital for follow-up. Depending on the specific condition, non-surgical treatments such as thoracentesis or closed thoracic drainage may be used for self-healing. However, if the condition recurs frequently, surgical treatment should be considered.