[Severe asthma complicated with large mucoid impaction: successful removal with balloon catheter].

A 28-year-old woman was hospitalized for renal transplantation. She suffered an asthma attack after transplantation. Once this attack had ended after medical treatment, she again experienced dyspnea after the 11th treatment day. A chest CT showed mucoid impaction in the left main bronchus, atelectasis in the left lower lobe, and pneumomediastinum. A huge mucoid impaction was removed with a balloon catheter under mechanical ventilation without exacerbation of the mediastinal emphysema. Mucoid impaction should be taken into account as a cause of dyspnea in severe asthma if the maximum dose of beta-stimulant is not effective.