Objective To investigate the application value of spiral CT postprocessing technique in the airway stent implantation technology. Methods Twenty-three patients with malignant airway stenosis or malignant tracheoesophageal fistula who needed the treatment of airway stent implantation from May 2012 to April 2016 were collected, including 19 males and 4 females with an average age of (61.6±10.0) years. Bronchoscopy and spiral CT with three-dimensional airway reconstruction were proceeded for the same patients before and after stent implantation, and the relevant data about narrow airway was measured by volume rendering, multiplanar reformation (MPR) and CT virtual endoscopy (CTVE) in a variety of ways, to confirm the location and size of narrow airway and fistulas, the degree and length of airway stenosis, as well as the distal end of the situation, and evaluate the patency of airway, the position and shape of stents, adjacent airway and complications after stenting. The positive forecast outcomes of the two inspections wascompared. Results Airway stents were placed successfully according to the data from the spiral CT airway three-dimensional reconstruction. Thirty stents were implantated in the 23 patients, including 21 column-type stents, 3 L-type stents, and 6 Y-type stents. All stents stayed in situ, with patency and no deformation.The fistulas were closed and the airways were reopened. Symptoms of cough after eating and drinking and dyspnea were relieved. The positive rates of bronchoscopy and CT examination on diagnosis of airway stenosis were both 100% (23/23). Complications: MRP showed tumor growth leading to stenosis again in 3 patients, and CTVE displayed mucous congestion in 2 patients. Conclusions The technique of 64-layer spiral CT postprocessing technique can measure the relate data of airway stricture or fistulas as a kind of convenient, quick, accurate, and noninvasive method in patients with malignant airway stenosis or tracheoesophageal fistula who need the treatment of airway stenting. It is of high reference value both to airway stent implanting and postoperative observation, and is worthy of application.
ObjectiveTo explore the rescue value of emergency bronchoscopic interventional therapy in patients with malignant airway stenosis and to share the treatment experience. MethodsThe critical patients with malignant airway stenosis who needed urgent bronchoscopic interventional therapy from January, 2007 to January, 2022 in Beijing Tiantan Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University were selected. The demographic and clinical data of intra-and-post the operation were collected. The rescue value and safety of emergency bronchoscopic intervention in the critical patients with malignant airway stenosis were evaluated, and the rescue process was summarized. ResultsForty-three patients were enrolled in the study, including 26 males and 17 females, with an average age of (61.6±11.4) years, including 20 cases of primary lung cancer and 23 cases of other malignant tumors; The main type of stenosis was endogenous (26 cases, 61.90%), followed by external pressure (12 cases, 28.57%) and mixed (4 cases, 9.52%) type. The stenosis site was almost the central airway (41 cases, 95.35%), and the main anesthesia method was general anesthesia (37 cases, 86.05%); Emergency bronchoscopic interventional therapy included local resection in 27 cases (62.79%), stent implantation in 12 cases (27.91%), exploration in 2 cases (4.65%), tumor biopsy in 1 case (2.33%), and adjustment of stent position in 1 case (2.33%); The dyspnea score and the degree of airway stenosis decreased significantly after interventional therapy (P<0.01); intraoperative complications occured in 21 cases and bleeding (19 cases) was the commonest one, short term postoperative complications occurred in 3 cases, including respiratory depression, glottic edema and airway spasm, respectively. ConclusionsEmergency bronchoscopic interventional therapy can quickly and effectively alleviate the severe airway obstruction caused by malignant tumor, and win time for the follow-up comprehensive treatment of tumor, but it needs close team cooperation and standardized rescue process.