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.
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
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 investigate the indications, procedures, risks and efficacy of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in bronchoscopic interventional surgery for patients with severe airway stenosis. Methods Retrospective analysis was performed on 6 patients with severe airway stenosis treated by bronchoscopic surgery under ECMO in West China Hospital from January 2018 to July 2021, and the experience of application was summarized in combination with 23 relevant literatures retrieved. Results Six patients on ECMO successfully completed bronchoscopic interventional surgery with satisfactory intraoperative oxygenation and no obvious hemostasis difficulties were observed. ECMO placement was as an emergency medical countermeasure in 3 patients while the other 3 patients were as preventive purpose. Following treatment, the shortness of breath index and mMRC score decreased and the patients were cured and discharged. During hospitalization, 3 patients had lower extremity deep vein thrombosis, and 1 patient with lower extremity swelling and pain, which was relieved after treatment with low molecular weight heparin. During discharge follow-up, 1 patient died due to airway stenosis, pulmonary infection, and subarachnoid hemorrhage secondary to cardiopulmonary resuscitation, while the other 5 patients did not show any worsening of dyspnea. Combined with the retrieval of 46 similar cases reported in the literature before 2020, it was concluded that these patients who met the application indications of ECMO and followed the shutdown procedure had a good prognosis and controllable risk. Conclusions ECMO can ensure the safety of patients with severe airway stenosis who need undergoing bronchoscopic interventional surgery for patients, improve the success rate of the operation and do not significantly increase the risk of bleeding. However, ECMO is difficult to operate and requires professional team management. Therefore, it is essential to master the indications of application, implement strict withdrawal procedures and necessary monitoring to improve the patient's cure rate and reduce the occurrence of adverse events.
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 the silicone stent for treatment of three common benign central airway stenosis. Methods We retrospectively reviewed 40 patients with benign airway stenosis who were treated with a Dumon silicone stent at Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University between November 2019 to October 2023, including 14 cases of tracheobronchial tuberculosis (TBTB) stenosis, 14 cases of stenosis after tracheal intubation,and 12 cases of stenosis after tracheotomy. The clinical data and information on bronchoscopic interventional procedures and related complications were collected and analyzed, for evaluating the short-term efficacy, long-term efficacy and stent-related complications. Results The 40 patients were successfully implanted of silicone stents for 48 times totally. The mMRC score, KPS score, blood oxygen saturation and the diameter of the narrowest airway were significantly improved (P<0.05) after the implantation of silicone stents in all patients. Patients in TBTB group achieved inferior efficacy than those in the other two groups (P<0.05), while there was no significant therapeutic effect between tracheal intubation and tracheotomy groups (P>0.05). The main complications after the implantation of silicone stents were granulation hyperplasia, sputum retention and stent displacement. There were higher incidence rates of granulation hyperplasia and sputum retention in the TBTB group compared with the tracheal intubation and tracheotomy groups (P<0.05 ), while there was no statistically significant difference in incidence rates of granulation hyperplasia and sputum retention between the last two groups. Meanwhile, there was no significant difference in the proportion of stent displacement among the three groups.Conclusions The efficacy and safety were satisfied in the treatment of the three common benign central airway stenosis,with a recommendation for the treatment of refractory benign airway stenosis. However, the treatment effect of the TBTB group is inferior to that of the tracheal intubation and tracheotomy groups, with higher rates of obvious granulation hyperplasia and sputum retention simultaneously. More detailed follow-up management was recommended for TBTB patients implanted with silicone stents to avoid the development of stent-related minor complications into serious complications with a worse prognosis.
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.