Bronchography in the assessment of patients with lung collapse for endoscopic laser therapy

The use of selective bronchography in predicting reversal of neoplastic obstructive atelectasis

OBJECTIVES

To assess the ability of selective bronchography to predict which patients with neoplastic postobstructive atelectasis will respond to interventional therapies directed at the reexpansion of the affected lung. Furthermore, to compare the utility of selective bronchography with the current predictive standard that reversal of postobstructive atelectasis is unlikely when it is > or = 4 weeks in duration (ie, the 4-week rule).

DESIGN

A prospective observational study.

SETTING

A tertiary care referral center/medical school.

PATIENTS

Twenty-seven consecutive patients with advanced lung cancer or other malignancy, with documented neoplastic postobstructive atelectasis involving a total of 44 lobes.

INTERVENTIONS

Lobar collapse was documented radiographically. The duration of atelectasis was investigated and quantified as accurately as possible. Prior to the use of interventional therapies, selective bronchography was performed on each collapsed lobe, and the results were documented. Bronchography results did not influence the decision to proceed with interventional therapies. Patients had each of their collapsed lobes manipulated by interventional techniques that were directed at reexpansion of the lung. One week after the patient underwent the intervention, the degree of reexpansion was assessed radiographically.

RESULTS

Interventional therapies leading to significant reversal of airway narrowing were completed in all 44 lobes. These were successful in reexpanding 28 of 44 collapsed lobes (64%). Selective bronchography demonstrated the following two distinct patterns: an intact bronchial tree (ie, tree pattern); or the absence of a distinguishable, distal bronchial tree (ie, blush pattern). The sensitivity of selective bronchography to predict reexpansion is 1.00 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.90 to 1.00), and its specificity is 0.56 (95% CI, 0.30 to 0.80). There were no complications attributable to selective bronchography. The sensitivity of the 4-week rule to predict reexpansion is 0.61 (95% CI, 0.41 to 0.78), and its specificity is 0.75 (95% CI, 0.48 to 0.93). The results of selective bronchography and use of the 4-week rule were significantly different in predicting which lobes would reexpand and which would not (p = 0.0026). Using selective bronchography to predict the reversal of lobar atelectasis, the positive predictive value of the tree pattern was 0.80 and the negative predictive value of the blush pattern was 1.00. The values for the 4-week rule are 0.81 and 0.52, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Selective bronchography is a useful tool for predicting whether patients with neoplastic postobstructive atelectasis would benefit from interventional techniques that are directed at lobar reexpansion. Selective bronchography appears to be superior to the 4-week rule in this regard.

Treatment of endotracheal or endobronchial obstruction by non-small cell lung cancer: lack of patients in an MRC randomized trial leaves key questions unanswered. Medical Research Council Lung Cancer Working Party

Symptoms of endotracheal or endobronchial obstruction caused by non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) may be relieved with external beam radiotherapy (XRT) or endobronchial treatment. The comparative roles of these two methods need to be established. Patients with predominantly intraluminal obstruction of the trachea, a main bronchus or a lobar bronchus by unresectable NSCLC were randomized to XRT versus the clinician's choice of endobronchial treatment with brachytherapy, laser resection or cryotherapy, according to local availability and practice. Clinicians' assessments included symptoms of obstruction, WHO performance status, lung function tests and adverse effects of treatment. Patients completed a Rotterdam Symptom Checklist at all assessments and a daily diary card to record the severity of major symptoms during the first 4 weeks. To show a difference of 15% in the relief of breathlessness rates at 4 months (from 65% to 80%), 400 patients were required. In spite of our many previously successful lung cancer trials, and initial interest from clinicians in 24 UK centres, who estimated they could randomize 200 patients per year into the present trial, only 75 patients were randomized from seven centres over 3.5 years. Intake to the trial was therefore abandoned in November 1996 although an independent Data Monitoring and Ethics Committee had concluded in April 1996 that the scientific case for the trial was still strong; there were no competing trials; there were no design problems; and much had been done to promote the trial. The main reasons given by centres for the slow intake were: lack of referrals of untreated patients; patients being referred specifically for endobronchial treatment; patients having already received XRT; emergency endobronchial relief of obstruction being necessary; and XRT and endobronchial treatment being considered complementary and not as alternatives. The relative advantages and disadvantages of XRT versus endobronchial treatment remain to be determined. The lack of recruitment to this trial raises the issue of innovative techniques not being given the chance of proving their worth compared with traditional treatments.

Efficacy of tracheal and bronchial stent placement on respiratory functional tests

Stent placement is the only available treatment in patients presenting either a localized external compression or a malacia of the tracheobronchial tree. To assess the functional benefit of prosthesis insertion in these indications, we compared functional respiratory values before, immediately after (48 h), and at sometime after (mean, 10.1 months) operation in 24 patients presenting with a bronchial lesion (B group, n = 5) or a lesion of the intrathoracic part (ITT group, n = 9) or of the extrathoracic part of the trachea (ETT group, n = 10). Before treatment, airflow was severely impaired in most patients without significant differences among the groups. After prosthesis insertion, airflow parameters increased [change in forced expiratory volume in 1 s (delta FEV1 = 440 mL; delta peak expiratory flow (PEF) = 0.92 L.s-1; delta maximum expiratory flow 25/75 (delta MEF25/75) = 0.47 L.s-1; and delta forced inspiratory volume in 1 s (delta FIV1 = 310 mL)] and airway resistances (Raws) decreased (delta Raw = -0.43 kPa.s-1.s-1) without any significant variation in either forced vital capacity (FVC) or total lung capacity. Airflow improvement was more apparent in ITT and ETT groups than in the B group. Moreover, inspiratory flow increase and decrease of FEV1/PEF ratio were only observed in the ETT group. This airflow improvement was maintained for a long time after and was associated with a good clinical tolerance. This study supports the clinical and functional benefits of prosthesis placement both in benign and malignant airway compressions for palliative treatment.

Bronchoscopic treatment of lung tumors

Several bronchoscopic techniques for the treatment of patients with tracheobronchial pathology have become available during the last decade. Technical development and additional instruments have provided the bronchoscopist with several alternatives for bronchoscopic therapeutic interventions. The majority of patients with malignant tracheobronchial neoplasm have a dismal prognosis. Palliation is the main aim of the treatment. However, in patients with an early-stage tumor, bronchoscopic treatment may have a curative potential. Resectability, after tumor reduction by a bronchoscopic treatment, may be improved. This article discusses various bronchoscopic techniques, the advantages and disadvantages of each method and the possible benefit which can be derived from such a treatment.

Laser therapy for endobronchial tumours

Endobronchial laser therapy has been performed at Knightswood Hospital, Glasgow since 1983. During the period 1983 to 1990, 62 patients underwent a total of 149 laser treatments. The principal indications for therapy were tracheo-carinal stridor (24%), dyspnoea due to bronchial occlusion (60%) and haemoptysis (13%). Squamous carcinoma accounted for 80% of the lesions. Over 75% of patients had already received some form of prior therapy (radiotherapy 71%, chemotherapy 8%, surgical resection 11%). Laser therapy reduced stridor in 67% of patients with tracheal and carinal tumours and produced symptomatic improvement in 72% of patients with bronchial obstruction but without evidence of lobar collapse. Haemoptysis was controlled in all but one of patients treated. Two patients (3.2%) died during laser treatment following severe haemorrhage.

Endoscopic palliation of tracheobronchial malignancies

The prognosis for tracheobronchial tumours remains poor. Most patients can be offered only palliation. When the main symptom is breathlessness or refractory haemoptysis from a large airway tumour endoscopic treatment may be very effective. Over the last decade most attention has focused on the neodymium YAG laser. This often produces dramatic effects but has some important limitations. In the last few years better techniques for stenting and intrabronchial radiotherapy (brachytherapy) have also been developed. This article discusses the range of techniques now available and aims to help clinicians decide which patients may benefit from referral to centres providing these techniques.