ObjectiveTo evaluate the clinical efficacy of balloon bronchoplasty and metallic stents in lung transplant-related central airway stenosis.MethodsData of lung transplant recipients with central airway stenosis who underwent therapeutic bronchoscopic interventions between January 2011 and June 2019 at our institution were reviewed. The clinical follow-up included dyspnea index, forced expiratory Forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), six-minute walk distance (6MWD), and the rate of bronchoscopic dilation.ResultsThirty-four lung transplant recipients with airway stenosis were included in our study. All these patients were treated by balloon bronchoplasty through flexural bronchoscopy, and 7 additionally needed temporary metal stent implantation for 28 to 67 days in order to palliate recurrent central airway stenosis. The percentages of immediate efficacy were 86% (180/209) and 100% (7/7), respectively. After serial balloon dilatation, the recipients with central airway stenosis had significantly lower dyspnea index (3.24±0.55 vs. 1.91±0.62, P<0.01), higher FEV1 ［(1.43±0.21)L vs. (1.72±0.27)L, P<0.01］ and longer 6MWD ［(317.3±61.7)m vs. (372.9±52.6)m, P<0.01］. Six recipients with central airway stenosis received 33 interventions in 6 months before stent implantation and 10 interventions in 6 months after stent extraction.ConclusionsLung transplant recipients with central airway stenosis have a good respond to balloon bronchoplasty and stent placement. Airway stenosis after lung transplantation can be successfully managed with bronchoscopic dilatation and temporary stent placement.
Objective To explore the diagnosis and treatment of airway involvement in relapsing polychondritis. Methods The clinical data of two patients with relapsing polychondritis with airway involvement were reported and the relative literatures were reviewed. Results The two patients were both old males, with clinical manifestations of cough, dyspnea, and fever. They were misdiagnosed in a other hospital. The pulmonary function tests showed obstructive ventilatory impairemnt. On inspiratory CT, tracheal / tracheobronchial wall thickening and airway stenosis, with or without tracheal cartilage calcification were common findings. The tracheal cartilages thickeness and membranous wall were normal. On expiratory CT scans, functional abnormalities were identified such as tracheobronchomalacia. The patients were relieved by medication of corticosteroids or with immunodepressant. Conclusions The relapsing polychondritis with airway involvement is easy to be misdiagnosed. Chest CT examination is a valuable method for diagnosis of relapsing polychondritis. Corticosteroids and immunodepressant can improve the outcome.
Objective To improve the knowledge on dynamic benign central airway stenosis through two typical cases. Methods The clinical features, imaging findings, and bronchial morphologic changes of two cases characterized by dynamic benign central airway stenosis were retrospectively analyzed. The etiologies for the two cases were tracheobronchomalacia (TBM) and excessive dynamic airway collapse (EDAC), respectively. Results Central airway stenosis and reversible airway obstruction were common clinical characteristics for the two cases. However, there were identifiable differences on imaging findings and bronchial morphologic changes between the two cases. Multidetector computed tomography showed sabre-sheath trachea and narrowed trachea in coronal position for TBM, while small sized trachea in exhalation phase and narrowed trachea in sagittal position for EDAC. Bronchoscopy displayed narrowed airway, swelling mucosa, and the absence of annular cartilage for TBM, while crescent airway with membranacea part protruding to lumen in inspiration phase, and the integrity of annular cartilage for EDAC. Conclusion Multidetector computed tomography and bronchoscopy examinations are valid methods to distinguish TBM and EDAC, which are both characterized by dynamic benign central airway stenosis.
Objective To analyze the influencing factors of short-term curative effect and long-term survival time of patients with tumor-induced malignant central airway obstruction (MCAO) after airway stent implantation. Methods A total of 120 patients with tumor-induced MCAO who underwent airway stent implantation in the hospital from January 2017 to June 2019 were enrolled. According to the cause of stenosis, the patients were divided into two groups: external pressure stenosis group (n=72) and non-external pressure stenosis group (n=48). The general data such as types and staging of tumor, differentiation degree, sites of airway obstruction, obstruction degree and preoperative level of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). Before and at 7d after stent implantation, partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2), partial pressure of arterial carbon dioxide (PaCO2) and saturation of arterial blood oxygen (SaO2) were detected. Before and at 1 month after stent implantation, diameter at airway obstruction segment, degree of airway obstruction and forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1) were detected. Dyspnea index (DI) and scores of Karnofsky performance status (KPS) were evaluated. The survival status at 1 year after surgery was followed up. The survival at 1 year after surgery was analyzed by Kaplan-Meier. The influencing factors of survival after stent implantation were analyzed by COX proportional hazard regression analysis. Results After stent implantation, PaO2, SaO2, diameter at airway obstruction segment, FEV1 and KPS score were significantly increased (P<0.05), while PaCO2, degree of airway obstruction and DI were significantly decreased in external pressure stenosis group and non-external pressure stenosis group (P<0.05). After stent implantation, the KPS score was significantly higher in external pressure stenosis group than that in non-external pressure stenosis group, and the shortness of breath index was significantly lower than that in non-external pressure stenosis group (P<0.05). The survival rate of patients with external pressure stenosis group was 29.17%, and the median survival time was 7.35 months, the survival rate and median survival time in non-external pressure stenosis group was 22.92%, and the median survival time was 6.10 months, and there was no significant difference between the two groups (log-rank χ2=1.542, P=0.214). COX proportional hazard regression analysis showed that tumor staging at stage IV (OR=2.056, P=0.020), preoperative KPS score lower than 50 points (OR=2.002, P=0.027) and no postoperative chemoradiotherapy (OR=4.292, P=0.039) were independent influencing factors of 1-year survival time after stent implantation in MCAO patients. Conclusions The clinical curative effect of airway stent implantation is good on patients with tumor-induced MCAO. Tumor staging at stage IV, preoperative KPS score lower than 50 points and no postoperative chemoradiotherapy are risk factors that affect survival time.
Objective To identify the short ( lt;30 days) and intermediate ( 30 days to 6 months) benefits and risks of tracheobronchial stents in patients with malignant airway stenosis. Methods 55 cases with malignant airway disease who underwent tracheobronchial stents placement from January 2006 to May 2008 were followed up for 6 months. The efficacy rate, complication rate, reintervention rate, and survival were analyzed. Results There were 61 self-expanding metal stents placed in 55 patients with malignant disease, with no intraoperative mortality. The immediate efficacy rate was 100% , the short-term( lt;30 days) efficacy rate was 94. 5% , and the survival rate in 6 months was 32. 7% . The complications included tumor ingrowth, excessive granulation tissue, stent migration, and restenosis. A total of 14 cases of complicationswere observed, in which two occurred during the short-term period ( lt; 30 days ) and the remaining complications occurred after 30 days. Conclusions Tracheobronchial stents can improve symptoms immediately for the patients with unresectable malignant central airway obstruction with fairly safety. The benefit of airway stents is particularly seen in the short-termperiod and the complications occur mainly after 30 days.
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.
Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of local triamcinolone combined with conventional interventional therapy in the treatment of benign airway stenosis. Methods PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMbase, Web of science, wanfang, VIP and China National Knowledge Infrastructure were searched by computer between the establishment of the database and August, 2019, and all literatures on the local treatment of benign airway stenosis using triamcinolone combined with conventional interventional therapy were searched. According to inclusion and exclusion criteria, 2 researchers screened the literatures and performed the data extraction and methodological quality evaluation. Meta-analysis was performed with Revman5.2 and Stata software. Results In total, nine randomized controlled trials were included in this meta-analysis, including 449 patients with airway stenosis. The total result showed that in the comparison of short-term efficacy, there were no statistically significant differences in breathability score (SMD=–0.16, 95%CI –0.45 - 0.13, P=0.27), airway diameter (SMD=0.14, 95%CI –0.13 - 0.41, P=0.30), and cross-sectional stenosis rate (SMD=–0.01, 95%CI –0.36 - 0.34, P=0.96) between the treatment group and the control group. In the comparison of long-term efficacy, the breathability score (SMD=–2.53, 95%CI –3.78 - –1.28, P<0.05), airway diameter (SMD=1.31, 95%CI 0.83 - 1.78, P<0.05), cross-sectional stenosis rate (SMD=2.58, 95%CI: 2.11~3.08, P<0.05), and FEV1(SMD=0.42, 95%CI 0.13 - 0.70, P=0.004) of patients in the treatment group were all better than those in the control group. But in terms of adverse reactions, the incidence of bleeding in the airway between two groups was similar (RR=2.00, 95%CI 0.88 - 4.52, P=0.10), other adverse reactions such as blood glucose and plasma cortisol levels were mild, which can be relieved symptomatically. Conclusion Current evidence suggests that topical triamcinolone combined with conventional interventional therapy for benign airway stenosis has a better long-term clinical efficacy with fewer adverse reactions and better overall patient tolerance, which has clinical application value
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.