[Tracheobronchomalacia]

Unexpected Airway Collapse: A Rare Case of Spontaneous Postoperative Tracheobronchomalacia in the Absence of Identifiable Risk Factors

We report the case of a 53-year-old female who developed tracheobronchomalacia immediately following an uncomplicated robotic hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy to treat postmenopausal bleeding. Induction of anesthesia was notable for moderately difficult intubation, managed with applied cricothyroid pressure and a small 6.5 endotracheal tube placement via GlideScope. The surgical course was uneventful. The patient remained intubated in the post-anesthesia care unit but was not providing end-tidal volumes. Attempts to replace the endotracheal tube with a larger tube were unsuccessful and the patient was temporarily unable to ventilate. Rapid troubleshooting discovered that a laryngeal mask airway (LMA) could sufficiently ventilate the patient. An otolaryngologist was able to perform direct bronchoscopy, which revealed more than 50% dynamic anterior-posterior collapse of the trachea and bronchi. The patient was subsequently awakened from anesthesia and monitored in the intensive care unit, ventilating with an LMA. After a couple of hours, it was determined that the patient's airway was protected, and the LMA was removed.

Pneumatic stenting in the surgical candidacy assessment for cough variant expiratory central airway collapse

Expiratory Central Airway Collapse (ECAC) is a multifactorial, underdiagnosed entity that poses unique challenges. Airway stenting is used as a predictor for successful outcomes after central airway stabilization surgery via tracheobronchoplasty (TBP). This approach may pose suboptimal performance in certain ECAC variants. We hypothesize that Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP), used as a pneumatic stent, could be a non-invasive alternative to evaluate surgical candidacy in cough-predominant ECAC presentations. We report on a 67-year-old female with a history of chronic cough and confirmed ECAC. After optimization of medical therapy without significant relief and unsuccessful stent trial. We opted to perform CPAP trial during exercise, the patient exercised on a treadmill, and CPAP was applied at two levels (9 cmH₂O, 11 cmH₂O). The use of CPAP was associated with resolution of cough and a decrease in exercise-related perceived exertion. Applying CPAP during exercise may be a promising alternative to stent trials to determine patients' candidacy for surgical management of cough-predominant ECAC.

Stent Evaluation for Expiratory Central Airway Collapse: Does the Type of Stent Really Matter?

BACKGROUND

Careful selection of patients with expiratory central airway collapse (ECAC) that may benefit from tracheobronchoplasty (TBP) can be aided by a short-term airway stent evaluation. This can be performed with either silicone Y-stents (SYSs) or uncovered self-expanding metallic airway-stents (USEMAS). No direct comparison has been made between these 2 stent types.

METHODS

This was a small retrospective review of consecutive patients that underwent a stent evaluation. A propensity score was used to match patients in the USEMAS and SYS groups. Outcomes included complications, changes in the health-related quality-of-life (HR-QoL), and changes in exercise capacity. Baseline measurements were compared with those obtained during stent evaluation and after TBP.

RESULTS

Forty-two patients with severe ECAC underwent USEMAS placement, while 18 patients had an SYS placed. Propensity score matching resulted in 13 matched SYS and USEMAS pairs. The SYS group had an increased rate of mucus plugging (38.5% vs. 0%, P <0.047). Although not statically significant, a clinical improvement was observed in HR-QoL and exercise capacity in the USEMAS group during stent placement. In patients who underwent TBP, both USEMAS and SYS groups had a statistically significant change in the Modified Medical Research Council Dyspnea Scale during stent evaluation and after TBP.

CONCLUSION

In patients with severe ECAC, short-term evaluation with airway stents appears to be safe and improves respiratory symptoms, HR-QoL, and exercise capacity. The use of USEMAS led to a lower complication rate, a greater improvement in HR-QoL and exercise capacity, and appeared to better predict how the patients would respond to TBP.

Successful management of a tracheomalacia patient with active endotracheal bleeding due to intraoperative innominate artery injury: A case report

RATIONALE

Intraoperative innominate artery injury is life-threatening in tracheomalacia patients with prolonged tracheostomy. Anesthetic management is challenging in cases with massive hemorrhage into the endotracheal tube. We report a case in which we successfully managed a tracheomalacia patient with acute endotracheal bleeding due to innominate artery injury.

PATIENT CONCERNS

A 24-year-old patient with tracheomalacia was scheduled to undergo exploratory thoracotomy for the treatment of intermittent bleeding at the tracheostomy site. During exploration, sudden active bleeding due to innominate artery injury was observed in the endotracheal lumen.

DIAGNOSES

The patient was diagnosed with tracheomalacia.

INTERVENTIONS

We immediately used the bronchoscope to place the tip of the endotracheal tube at the bleeding site and hyperinflated the cuff.

OUTCOMES

The ballooned cuff compressed the active bleeding site, so no additional bleeding was detected by bronchoscopy, and no additional massive bleeding was observed in the operative field.

LESSONS

Immediate and appropriate overinflation of the endotracheal tube cuff by an anesthesiologist may provide improved surgical field visibility and time for critical surgical procedures in cases of massive hemorrhaging.

Tracheobronchomalacia and Excessive Dynamic Airway Collapse: Current Concepts and Future Directions

Tracheobronchomalacia (TBM) and excessive dynamic airway collapse (EDAC) are airway abnormalities that share a common feature of expiratory narrowing but are distinct pathophysiologic entities. Both entities are collectively referred to as expiratory central airway collapse (ECAC). The malacia or weakness of cartilage that supports the tracheobronchial tree may occur only in the trachea (ie, tracheomalacia), in both the trachea and bronchi (TBM), or only in the bronchi (bronchomalacia). On the other hand, EDAC refers to excessive anterior bowing of the posterior membrane into the airway lumen with intact cartilage. Clinical diagnosis is often confounded by comorbidities including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, obesity, hypoventilation syndrome, and gastroesophageal reflux disease. Additional challenges include the underrecognition of ECAC at imaging; the interchangeable use of the terms TBM and EDAC in the literature, which leads to confusion; and the lack of clear guidelines for diagnosis and treatment. The use of CT is growing for evaluation of the morphology of the airway, tracheobronchial collapsibility, and extrinsic disease processes that can narrow the trachea. MRI is an alternative tool, although it is not as widely available and is not used as frequently for this indication as is CT. Together, these tools not only enable diagnosis, but also provide a road map to clinicians and surgeons for planning treatment. In addition, CT datasets can be used for 3D printing of personalized medical devices such as stents and splints. An invited commentary by Brixey is available online. Online supplemental material is available for this article. ^©RSNA, 2022.

The clinical safety and efficacy of flexible bronchoscopy in a neonatal intensive care unit

Flexible bronchoscopy (FB), developed in the 1960s, is widely used in the clinical practice of pediatrics and has demonstrated fundamental value in clinical diagnoses and treatment. However, as an invasive procedure, the use of FB is limited due to concerns regarding the tolerance of the procedure and the possible complications in neonatal units. Thus, the present study aimed to investigate the clinical safety and efficacy of flexible bronchoscopy (FB) in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Neonates (n=54) who received FB in the NICU of Shanghai Children's Hospital between January 2012 and December 2016 were enrolled as the experimental group and another 54 neonates who required nebulization and tracheal secretion suction treatments were the control group. Indicators including blood gas, complete blood count, C-reactive protein (CRP), X-ray, patient breathing rate, temperature and blood pressure were monitored prior to and following the procedure. No significant differences in sex, gestational age, birth weight or postnatal age were observed between the experimental group and the control group (P>0.05). Among the 54 FB patients, several cases with side effect were identified, including 18 (33.3%) with respiratory tract stenosis, nine (16.7%) with malacia and stenosis and six (11.1%) with esophagotracheal fistula. Among the 54 members of the control group, 44 neonates (81.4%) were discharged with improved condition, five (9.3%) succumbed and five patients (9.3%) abandoned the treatment and left the hospital. Bronchoalveolar lavage demonstrated consistent results with respiratory secretion culture or tracheal tube culture. In comparison between the experimental and the control groups, no significant difference in pH, partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PCO₂), partial pressure of oxygen (PO₂) and HCO₃ ^- was observed, while there were no statistical differences in the values of pH, PCO₂ and HCO₃ ^- (P>0.05). However, PO₂ was significantly increased, and CRP was significantly reduced, following FB procedure compared with prior to FB (P<0.05). No pneumothorax, shock, other severe complications, fever or diffused pneumonia were observed during or after FB. The data from the present study demonstrated that FB is a safe and effective strategy for the diagnosis and differentiation of neonatal respiratory diseases in NICU.

New insights in the diagnosis of chronic refractory cough

BACKGROUND

Chronic Refractory Cough (CRC) is a common condition that significantly impairs patients' quality of life. Unfortunately, in many situations patients continue to experience CRC in spite of following published guidelines for diagnosis and treatment.

METHODS

99 patients were referred to National Jewish Health (NJH), a specialty respiratory center for evaluation of CRC (cough ≥ 8 weeks duration). Study duration occurred over 18 months. Intake evaluation for all patients included history, physical examination, spirometry and fiberoptic laryngoscopy. Testing to confirm causes of CRC were performed. Specific therapy for each potential cause was provided. A visual analog cough scale measured cough response.

RESULTS

Ten final diagnostic categories were found in the cohort of 99 patients with CRC: Obstructive sleep apnea (apnea/hypoxia index ≥ 5), rhinosinusitis, Tracheobronchomalacia (≥65% collapse of airway with dynamic expiratory imaging), esophageal dysmotility, gastroesophageal reflux, abnormal swallowing with laryngeal penetration, asthma, COPD, bronchiectasis and paradoxical vocal cord movement. In these patients there were 42 incorrect intake diagnoses and 101 new diagnoses established. Patients with CRC have had multiple diagnoses (3.8 ± 1.6) associated with chronic cough. With directed therapy 71/76 (93%) patients had resolution or improvement in cough symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

Among patients referred to a specialty respiratory center with CRC multiple concomitant diagnoses for cough were common. Certain diagnoses such as OSA and TBM have not been reported in cough guidelines but in this study are commonly associated diagnoses. Targeted therapy for each recognized diagnosis improves patient response.

Endotracheal tube size to leakage ventilation and tracheal dilatation

PURPOSE

This study analyzed the clinical factors with the aim to determine the relationship between endotracheal tube (ETT) size and leakage ventilation (LV) and tracheal dilatation.

METHODS

All patients with ETT intubation and ventilator support for more than 6 months were retrospectively evaluated. The inner tracheal diameter (TD) was measured over image at the starting and 6 months after ventilator initiated. We compared the clinical factors, outcomes and complications between patients with and without LV, as well as with and without a TD enlarging more than 25% after 6 months (TDn). Logistic regression analyses of factors related to the LV and TDn were performed. The cut-off points of the ratio of outer diameter of ETT (OD) to TD were set and evaluated for their accuracy of predicting LV and TDn.

RESULTS

689 patients were enrolled initially and eventually 199 patients were included, of which 52 and 66 patients were identified to have LV and TDn, respectively. Patients with LV had a higher peak inspiratory pressure (PIP), smaller initial ETT OD/TD and higher incidence of pneumonia. Patients with TDn had a higher PIP, larger initial OD/TD and higher incidence of pneumonia. A higher PIP and smaller initial OD/TD were significantly related to LV and a higher PIP and larger initial OD/TD were significantly related to TDn. The incidence of LV and TDn was higher in patients with an initial OD/TD less than 0.51 and more than 0.54, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The initial ETT OD/TD ratio is a predictor for LV and TDn.

Awareness, Competencies, and Practice Patterns in Tracheobronchomalacia: A Survey of Pulmonologists

BACKGROUND

Tracheobronchomalacia (TBM) is a disorder of expiratory central airway collapse. TBM is separate from excessive dynamic airway collapse. Historically TBM has lacked a universally accepted definition. No consensus recommendations on evaluation and management exist. We suspect these unresolved issues contribute to deficits in pulmonologists' awareness and management of TBM.

METHODS

We created a 20-question survey obtaining information about overall awareness, knowledge base, competencies, and practice patterns in managing TBM. The survey was disseminated via email by American College of Chest Physicians to members of their Interventional Chest Diagnostic Procedures Network.

RESULTS

One hundred sixty-five clinicians participated in the survey. Seventy-seven percent of respondents chose the correct definition for TBM. Twenty-two percent of respondents never considered TBM in patients with cough, sputum production, dyspnea, and recurrent infections. Thirty-eight percent did not proceed with further evaluation of TBM if pulmonary function tests were normal. Eighteen percent use a classification system to describe the severity of TBM. Only 29% could identify TBM on bronchoscopy and only 39% identified TBM on computed tomography. Respondents that practice interventional pulmonology demonstrated a better knowledge base of TBM.

CONCLUSION

This survey exposes deficits among pulmonologists in their ability to confidently and correctly diagnose and manage TBM. These deficits are not surprising as our understanding of this clinical entity is evolving. There exists a need for further education of pulmonologists about TBM and a need to promote collaborative efforts through research and expert consensus committees to progress our knowledge and management of this disease.

Laser tracheobronchoplasty: a novel technique for the treatment of symptomatic tracheobronchomalacia

The management of tracheobronchomalacia is a very challenging problem with few treatment options. This study aims to evaluate the outcomes of a novel surgical treatment for membranous tracheobronchomalacia. A consecutive series of patients with tracheobronchomalacia were treated with two to three holmium laser scarring surgeries of the hyperdynamic tracheal and bronchial walls for the purpose of stiffening them through fibrosis. Patients filled out a Dyspnea Index questionnaire before and after treatment. Ten patients were treated for their tracheobronchomalacia with a mean age of 54 years. Symptoms included severe dyspnea, dry cough, recurrent pulmonary infections, and respiratory failure. Fifty percent of patients presented with wheezing refractory to traditional treatment. Tracheobronchomalacia was associated with gastroesophageal reflux disease (n = 8), obstructive sleep apnea (n = 5), and tracheal stenosis (n = 3). Only 50 % of patients presented with morbid obesity. All cases showed significant improvement of their respiratory symptoms with a mean postoperative difference of 22.3 out of a maximum impairment score of 40 (P < 0.01) on the Dyspnea Index. The mean number of procedures was 2.3 per patient with the average laser energy delivered per procedure of 1600 J. Laser tracheobronchoplasty is a safe, easy to adopt, and effective technique for the treatment of membranous tracheobronchomalacia. It presents a simple alternative to the commonly used procedures like endoluminal stenting and open tracheobronchoplasty.

Tracheostomy Tube Placement: Early and Late Complications

Tracheostomy tube placement is a therapeutic procedure that has gained increased favor over the past decade. Upper airway obstructions, failure to liberate from the ventilator, and debilitating neurological conditions are only a few indications for tracheostomy tube placement. Tracheostomy tubes can be placed either surgically or percutaneously. A percutaneous approach offers fewer surgical site infections and postsurgical bleeding than a surgical approach. A surgical placement posses a lower risk of injury to the posterior tracheal wall and spontaneous decannulation is less common. Late complications of both approaches include stenosis, malacia, along with tracheoesophageal, tracheoinnominate, and tracheocutaneous fistulas. This review describes the indications and methods of placement of tracheostomy tubes along with early and late complications that may occur following placement.

Is silicone stent insertion a clinically useful option for tracheobronchomalacia?

BACKGROUND/AIM

Tracheobronchomalacia (TBM) leads to the obstruction of expiratory airflow and interference with secretion clearance. Stabilization of the airway wall using a silicon stent or laser coagulation of the posterior wall may be treatment options. This study aimed to retrospectively analyze which interventional bronchoscopic method could be used to provide airway stabilization and gain control of symptoms and for whom this method could be used.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Fifteen patients who had received treatment in our interventional pulmonology unit were analyzed. We analyzed the techniques used, stent duration, complications, and long-term treatment success retrospectively.

RESULTS

Stents were used in 10 patients: 4 patients had silicon Y-stents and 4 patients had silicon tracheal stents. Stents were removed due to early migration in 3 patients. In 5 of the 7 cases, the stent was removed due to frequent obstructions of the stent due to recurrent severe mucostasis. A suitable stent was not found for one patient who had an extremely enlarged trachea. Good clinical results were achieved in just two cases. The frequency of admissions to the emergency room and hospitalizations were diminished during the follow-up time in these two patients.

CONCLUSION

Silicon stents may be a good treatment option in selected patients with TBM and dynamic collapse. However, our patients were high-risk; thus, the criteria for candidates for bronchoscopic treatment should be carefully defined.

Endodermal Wnt signaling is required for tracheal cartilage formation

Tracheobronchomalacia is a common congenital defect in which the walls of the trachea and bronchi lack of adequate cartilage required for support of the airways. Deletion of Wls, a cargo receptor mediating Wnt ligand secretion, in the embryonic endoderm using ShhCre mice inhibited formation of tracheal-bronchial cartilaginous rings. The normal dorsal-ventral patterning of tracheal mesenchyme was lost. Smooth muscle cells, identified by Acta2 staining, were aberrantly located in ventral mesenchyme of the trachea, normally the region of Sox9 expression in cartilage progenitors. Wnt/β-catenin activity, indicated by Axin2 LacZ reporter, was decreased in tracheal mesenchyme of Wls(f/f);Shh(Cre/+) embryos. Proliferation of chondroblasts was decreased and reciprocally, proliferation of smooth muscle cells was increased in Wls(f/f);Shh(Cre/+) tracheal tissue. Expression of Tbx4, Tbx5, Msx1 and Msx2, known to mediate cartilage and muscle patterning, were decreased in tracheal mesenchyme of Wls(f/f);Shh(Cre/+) embryos. Ex vivo studies demonstrated that Wnt7b and Wnt5a, expressed by the epithelium of developing trachea, and active Wnt/β-catenin signaling are required for tracheal chondrogenesis before formation of mesenchymal condensations. In conclusion, Wnt ligands produced by the tracheal epithelium pattern the tracheal mesenchyme via modulation of gene expression and cell proliferation required for proper tracheal cartilage and smooth muscle differentiation.

[Incidental bronchoscopic findings]

Inflexible and flexible bronchoscopy represents a standard diagnostic procedure in pneumology. Besides lung carcinomas, which is the most frequent indication for diagnostic bronchoscopy, a plethora of clinical symptoms such as chronic persistent cough, hoarseness, unexplained dyspnea, hemoptysis, and suspicious findings on auscultation require further endoscopic evaluation. Moreover, bronchoscopy plays a central role in the diagnostic work-up of interstitial lung diseases and persistent lung infiltrates, in particular those of infectious origin (e.g., fungal, viral, tuberculous, and Pneumocystis jiroveci infections). In addition, diagnostic bronchoscopy has more recently been complemented by endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS). EBUS is predominantly employed for the accurate diagnosis and mediastinal staging of lung carcinomas, and the assessment of lympadenopathy-associated diseases such as sarcoidosis.Since endoscopic evaluation is typically preceded by computed tomography (CT) of the chest, genuine incidental findings occur relatively seldom and usually account for pathological findings that have been missed on conventional imaging approaches. For instance, characteristic incidental findings include benign and malignant tumors in the area of the endoscopic access and central airways, anatomical variations and (vascular) malformations, tracheal and bronchial airway alterations, and aspirated objects. This review focuses on bronchoscopic findings that have either been completely missed by conventional imaging or differently interpreted due to its radiologic morphology.

[Advances in respiratory health 2010: Techniques and Transplantation Section]

Five articles and an editorial on interventional pneumology were published in Archivos de Bronconeumología. Two of these articles deal with bronchoscopy, one with lung biopsy with cryoprobes, one with thermoplasty in asthma and the last with tracheobronchomalacia. We also review several publications in international journals, with special emphasis on endobronchial ultrasound. Four original articles on idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis were published in Archivos de Bronconeumología: one special article comparing two treatments and a Cochrane systematic review on the efficacy of non-steroidal drugs in this disease. Finally, we highlight studies in lung transplantation, consisting of 14 publications from different continents and with highly diverse contents: one editorial, one letter to the editor, one procedures manual and nine international publications on donor characteristics, various types of complications, experimental results in the field of preservation, and the casuistics obtained in distinct diseases in which transplantation is an option.

Advances in interventional pulmonology

Interventional pulmonology (IP) remains a rapidly expanding and evolving subspecialty focused on the diagnosis and treatment of complex diseases of the thorax. As the field continues to push the leading edge of medical technology, new procedures allow for novel minimally invasive approaches to old diseases including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and metastatic or primary lung malignancy. In addition to technologic advances, IP has matured into a defined subspecialty, requiring formal training necessary to perform the advanced procedures. This need for advanced training has led to the need for standardization of training and the institution of a subspecialty board examination. In this review, we will discuss the dynamic field of IP as well as novel technologies being investigated or employed in the treatment of thoracic disease.

The spectrum of pulmonary malformation in trisomy-21 patient. A review with emphasis on the molecular-genetic basis

Gene overexpression has been identified as a primary determining factor for the distinct Down syndrome (DS) phenotypes. Previous genetic research has identified a spectrum of gene expressions responsible for many of the observed traits in DS patients including cardiovascular, brain, and GI anomalies. However, the molecular/genetic basis underlying pulmonary anomalies are yet to be identified, even though respiratory complications represent the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in DS patients. In this article, we will discuss the Etiopathogenesis and spectrum of pulmonary anomalies in DS patients.

Stridor and respiratory failure due to tracheobronchomalacia: case report and review of the literature

CONTEXT

Tracheobronchomalacia (TBM) results from structural and functional abnormalities of the respiratory system. It is characterized by excessive collapse: at least 50% of the cross-sectional area of the trachea and main bronchi. In this paper, we present a rare case of a patient with TBM who first presented with stridor and respiratory failure due to exacerbation of chronic bronchitis.

CASE REPORT

An 81-year-old Caucasian man was admitted presenting coughing, purulent sputum, stridor and respiratory failure. He had a medical history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and silicosis and was a former smoker. Axial computed tomography on the chest revealed marked collapse of the trachea in its middle third. Bronchoscopy showed characteristics compatible with TBM. He was treated with noninvasive ventilation, without any good response. Subsequently, a Dumon Y stent was placed by means of rigid bronchoscopy. After the procedure, he was discharged with a clinical improvement.

CONCLUSION

TBM is fatal and often underdiagnosed. In COPD patients, stridor and respiratory failure may be helpful signs that should alert physicians to consider TBM as an early diagnosis. Thus, these signs may be important for optimizing the treatment and evolution of such patients.

Psittacosis infection and tracheobronchomalacia in a patient undergoing thyroidectomy

A 34-year-old woman with papillary thyroid carcinoma underwent total thyroidectomy with central and lateral lymphadenectomy. Immediate airway compromise required re-intubation immediately after surgery. Marked tracheal and bronchial collapse of greater than 50% of the lumen indicated tracheobronchomalacia. Subsequent attempts at extubation failed over the next week. The patient soon developed evidence of a lower respiratory tract infection. Empirical treatment with penicillins was unsuccessful. A clinical suspicion of chlamydia infection prompted initiation of macrolide treatment followed by resolution of both the patient's respiratory infection and tracheobronchomalacia. Serology returned positive for Chlamydophila psittaci infection. It later transpired that the patient had symptoms of an upper respiratory tract infection just prior to surgery. This case demonstrates an interesting and unreported cause of tracheobronchomalacia as well as providing a good lesson on the importance of preoperative screening for infection.