[Treatment of malignant central airways obstruction by rigid bronchoscopy]

Prognostic factors and clinical outcomes of stenting on malignant central airway obstruction

Various therapeutic bronchoscopy techniques, including stenting, are widely utilized in the treatment of malignant central airway obstruction (MCAO), however, little data exist on the independent clinical outcomes and prognostic factors of airway stenting on MCAO. We retrospectively analyzed 287 eligible patients with MCAO who underwent therapeutic bronchoscopy at the Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Zhangzhou Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, between January 1, 2016, and May 31, 2023. The length of survival was measured in months from the date of the first bronchoscopy procedure to the date of death, or until six months post-procedure or loss to follow-up. Dyspnea was assessed using the Borg score, modified Medical Research Council (mMRC), and 6-minute walk distance (6MWD), while quality of life (QoL) was evaluated using the Short Form 6-Dimension (SF-6D) and Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) score. All assessments were conducted consecutively at baseline, three months, and six months following the procedure. The overall survival rate was illustrated using the Kaplan-Meier curve, and the Cox proportional hazards mode were applied to evaluate multiple prognostic factors affecting survival in both groups over a 6-month follow-up period. A total of 287 patients were analyzed, including 215 in the stent group and 72 in the non-stent group. A significant difference in lesion location was observed between the groups. Postoperative stenosis was significantly improved in the stent group, with 94.41% achieving grade I stenosis compared to 8.33% in the non-stent group (P = 0.001). The stent group also showed greater improvements in KPS, Borg scores, SF-6D, and 6MWD compared to the non-stent group (P = 0.001). Additionally, significant improvements in Borg score, mMRC, 6MWD, KPS, and SF-6D were maintained at three- and six-month follow-ups. The mean survival period was significantly longer in the stent group (5.1 months) compared to the non-stent group (4.6 months). The Cox proportional hazards model identified the type of stenosis (HR: 0.184, 95% CI: 0.047-0.968, P = 0.015) and the degree of stenosis after the procedure (HR: 0.211, 95% CI: 0.061-0.726, P = 0.014) as significant factors influencing survival outcomes. Airway stenting is a safe and effective procedure leading to significant improvements in clinical symptoms and QoL for patients with MCAO at a 6-month follow-up. The type and severity of stenosis were identified as significant prognostic factors for survival.

Long-Term Outcomes of Interventional Bronchoscopy for Central Airway Obstruction in a Single-Center Retrospective Study: A Subgroup Analysis of Malignant and Benign Lesions

Background: Central airway obstruction (CAO) remains a major challenge in thoracic oncology, particularly in patients with advanced lung cancer. Despite advances in systemic therapies, interventional bronchoscopy, especially rigid bronchoscopy (RB), plays a critical role in managing CAO. Methods: Between June 2005 and December 2023, 416 patients with central airway obstructions were treated. The cohort included 213 males (51%) and 203 females (49%), with a mean age of 64.8 years. A retrospective review of patient data was conducted, and descriptive statistics were used to summarize demographics and procedural outcomes. Survival rates and complication data were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier survival curves. Multivariate analysis was performed to identify significant predictors of survival and complications, considering factors such as tumor stage, prior treatments, and comorbidities. The study also analyzed the impact of adjuvant therapies and stenting on patient outcomes. Results: Of the 416 patients, 86 (20.7%) had benign lesions, including 61 cases of post-tracheostomy stenosis or prolonged intubation, while the remaining 330 (79.3%) had malignant CAO. Patients receiving adjuvant therapies showed a significant survival advantage, with a median survival of 24 months compared to 15 months for those not receiving adjuvant therapies (p = 0.015). Stenting was performed in 141 cases, but no significant survival difference was found between patients with and without stents (p = 0.52). Complications were rare, with airway rupture observed in 1.9% and perioperative mortality in 0.25%. Symptom relief was achieved in the majority of patients, with significant improvements in quality of life, particularly in those with malignant obstructions. Conclusions: RB remains a cornerstone in the management of CAO, providing effective and durable symptom relief. It is particularly beneficial for advanced malignancies, offering a palliative approach that improves both survival and quality of life. Our study supports the guidelines endorsing RB for CAO management and highlights its role in providing significant symptom relief and stabilization in patients with severe airway obstruction.

Use of esketamine for tracheoscopic drug injection: a randomized controlled trial

Background

Sufentanil may induce hypotensive bradycardia and other adverse reactions in elderly patients during anesthesia, while esketamine exhibits sedative and analgesic effects with minimal impact on respiration and circulation. The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of these two anesthetics on vital signs in patients undergoing bronchoscopy and lavage under general anesthesia.

Method

This study was a randomized controlled trial with a parallel design. A total of 100 patients aged ≥60 years with ASAI or II who were undergoing bronchoscopy and lavage were randomly assigned to two groups: group A (esketamine, n = 50) and group B (sufentanil, n = 50). During anesthesia induction, both groups received intravenous infusion of propofol at a dose of 1.5 mL/kg and atracurium. In group A, esketamine at a dose of 0.3 mg/kg was injected; in group B, sufentanil at a dose of 0.2 μg/kg was injected intravenously. Subsequently, a laryngeal mask was inserted and connected to an anesthesia machine for mechanical ventilation. Anesthesia maintenance involved continuous intravenous infusion of propofol at a dose of 3 mL/kg. The mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), and blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) were recorded at various time points: before anesthesia injection (T0), after laryngeal mask insertion (T1), 5 min after the operation started (T2), 15 min after the operation started (T3), and before the end of the operation (T4). Additionally, the recovery time was recorded.

Results

The blood pressure of patients in the esketamine group exhibited higher levels compared to those in the sufentanil group at multiple time points during the operation, while maintaining a more stable intraoperative blood pressure and shorter postoperative recovery time than that observed in the sufentanil group. The blood pressure and heart rate of patients in the esketamine group exhibited significant fluctuations after laryngeal mask implantation compared to pre-anesthesia induction, with a statistically significant increase observed. Conversely, no significant changes were observed in the sufentanil group. The heart rate and oxygen saturation showed no significant differences between the two groups, nor did the amount of propofol administered during the procedure.

Conclusion

The utilization of esketamine during the induction phase of bronchoscopy and lavage under general anesthesia can enhance hemodynamic stability and reduce the occurrence of hypotension, thereby facilitating postoperative anesthetic recovery.

[Bronchoscopic treatment of malignant central airway obstruction: A cohort study, long-term survival and complications]

INTRODUCTION

Interventional bronchoscopy is now the standard treatment for tracheobronchial narrowing due to tumor. The objective of our study was to analyze long-term survival and complications occurring in patients with malignant airway obstruction.

METHODS

We retrospectively studied the data from 93 patients treated between 2008 and 2019.

RESULTS

One hundred and eleven therapeutic bronchoscopies were performed. Sixty-seven patients had primary lung cancer, in 17 had tumors of another origin and 9 patients had benign or local lung tumors. Thulium laser was frequently used prior to tumor enucleation and to restore hemostasis. Seventy-one silicone stents were inserted. The death rate at the time of the procedure was 1.8% and immediate complication occurred in 9.9% of the patients. Long-term survival was significantly better for patients with cancer from other origins than in those with primary lung cancer (615.5days versus 177.9days). On the other hand, there was no significant difference in long-term survival between patients with locally advanced and metastatic lung cancer with endobronchial lesions treated by stent and those who were not (234.2days versus 164.6days). All patients with benign or with locally malignant tumors were still alive.

CONCLUSION

Therapeutic bronchoscopy increases the long-term survival of patients with malignant airway obstruction. The risk-benefit ratio was favorable.

Interventional Bronchoscopy for the Treatment of Malignant Central Airway Stenosis: An Expert Recommendation for China

Malignant central airway stenosis refers to airway stenosis caused by primary or metastatic malignant tumors which may lead to different levels of dyspnea or asphyxia in patients. With the rapid development of interventional pulmonology, therapeutic bronchoscopy has become one of the main methods for the diagnosis and treatment of malignant central airway stenosis. However, the level of diagnosis and treatment of respiratory intervention techniques in China is uneven at present, the treatment methods are not uniform, the treatment effects vary greatly, and some treatments even lead to serious complications. The interventional treatment technology for malignant central airway stenosis in China needs to be standardized. Therefore, the relevant experts of the Beijing Health Promotion Association Respiratory and Oncology Intervention and Treatment Alliance have formulated this consensus after several rounds of full discussion.

Achieving proficiency in rigid bronchoscopy-a study in manikins

BACKGROUND

Rigid bronchoscopy may be used to relieve acute airway obstruction following induction of anaesthesia and is a recommended option for management of the difficult airway. The ability of anaesthetists to perform rigid bronchoscopy has not been reported. We sought to explore the acquisition of procedural skill in rigid bronchoscopy by anaesthesiologists in a manikin.

METHODS

In a prospective interventional study, participants were asked to perform 40 rigid bronchoscopies in a TruCorp AirSim Advance airway manikin, configured to a randomised sequence of easy or difficult laryngoscopic grades to which the participants were blinded. The primary outcome was stabilisation (the attempt after which no further reduction in procedural time occurred). Dental injury and oesophageal intubation were also recorded. Forty anaesthesiologists and 40 unskilled controls (without laryngoscopic skills) participated.

RESULTS

In the easy model, stabilisation occurred at attempt 8 in the anaesthesiology group and 10 in the unskilled controls. In the difficult model, stabilisation occurred at attempt 10 in both groups. Dental injury was less common in the anaesthesiology group. The proportion of participants achieving procedural competency did not differ between groups in either the easy (35/40 vs. 30/40) or difficult model (32/40 vs. 25/40).

CONCLUSIONS

This study shows that the technical skill of rigid bronchoscopy can be acquired within 10 repetitions in a manikin model. As procedural competence and complication frequency vary with the laryngoscopic grade of the model, both easy and difficult configurations should be used for training. Advanced laryngoscopic skills are not required prior to training in this technique.

[Interventional Bronchoscopies for the Treatment of 112 Cases with Complex Malignant Central Airway Diseases Involved in Bifurcation]

BACKGROUND

It is very difficult to deal with the comprehensive central airway diseases, especially the malignant airway obstruction. The aim of this study is to explore the clinical effects of multiple interventional bronchoscopies for the treatment of 112 cases with comprehensive malignant central airway diseases so as to evaluate the clinical applications of thermoablation and cryosurgery.

METHODS

The 112 cases with malignant airway diseases retrospectively reviewed for bronchoscopic interventions performed in more than two lesions of carina and/or bifurcation. The age was from 22 to 90 years, which including 55 cases with squamous carcinoma (SQ), 16 adenocarcinoma (AD), 15 adenocystic carcinoma (ACC), 10 metastasis tumor (MT), 8 small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) and 8 mixed carcinoma (MC). All bronchoscopic interventions such as argon plasma coagulation (APC), cryosurgery, electronic snare and stenting were performed under rigid bronchoscopy combined with electric bronchoscopy in general anesthesia.

RESULTS

The 460 bronchoscopic procedures were successfully performed in 112 cases. Cryosurgery and APC were the most used in every group. Stent was more common in patients with MT, balloon dilation was more common in patients with ACC and AD. Electric snare and radioactive seeds implantation were frequently used in cases with SCLC. Trachea stricture is more severe in MT than that in others, while bronchus stricture is more severe than that of trachea in SQ and ACC group. Karnofsky performance score (KPS) is lower and shortness of breath score (SBS) is higher in MC, MT and SCLC group. Trachea and bronchus stricture is improved after comprehensive treatment in 5 groups except of mixed group. KPS increased and SS decreased significantly in 5 groups except of adenocarcinoma. In follow-up, the overall survival time (OS) is 15 months and median survival time is 10 months, especially OS is 28.4 months in ACC and 21.7 months in AD, 8.9 months in SCLC and 7.4 months in mixed group.

CONCLUSIONS

APC combination with Cryosurgery and other bronchoscopic interventions are indicated for the treatment of complex or difficult airway diseases whether they are located in trachea or bronchus. It is a safe and rapid during procedure.