Endobronchial Watanabe Spigots

Endobronchial Watanabe Spigots (EWS) were developed by NOVATECH in close cooperation with Dr. Y. WATANABE, Okayama, Japan. They are made of implant grade, radiopaque silicone.

Indications for re-expansion of the lung in case of

• inoperable pneumothorax
• bronchio-pleural fistula

With a continuous loss of air and collapse of the lung despite thoracic suction drain, when surgical intervention is not indicated.

A study performed in Japan with 63 patients including 40 cases of intractable pneumothorax, 12 cases of pyothorax with fistula and 7 cases of pulmonary fistula has shown that using EWS is safer and has more permanent results than conventional methods.

Aftercare

• If the use of EWS alone does not improve the patients' condition, pleurodesis (for example using Steritalc®) or other therapy can follow after the collapsed lung has re-expanded and the loss of air is stopped.
• The spigots can be removed after the clinical condition has improved and the thoracic drain is removed.