Long-Term Outcome of Metallic Stenting for Central Airway Involvement in Relapsing Polychondritis

Diagnostic Challenges and Management of Relapsing Polychondritis with Large-Airway Involvement: A Case Series and Literature Review

OBJECTIVES

Our aim was to investigate the diagnostic challenges and management of relapsing polychondritis (RP) with airway involvement, highlighting the need for accurate diagnosis and effective intervention to prevent severe complications.

METHODS

In this retrospective study, medical records from January 2011 through June 2024 at a single tertiary-care institution were reviewed. This study was approved by the institutional review board. A total of 34 patients were diagnosed with RP, among whom 4 presented with significant airway complications. This study focused on these four patients, detailing their clinical presentations, diagnostic processes, and outcomes following various interventions.

RESULTS

All patients were initially misdiagnosed with asthma and later developed severe airway issues necessitating interventions such as tracheotomy and endotracheal intubation. Diagnostic imaging, microlaryngoscopy and bronchoscopy (MLB) were crucial for identifying subglottic stenosis and other airway alterations. Treatments included high-dose steroids, rituximab, and surgical interventions such as balloon dilation and tracheostomy. Only one patient could be decannulated; the other three remained dependent on tracheostomy and experienced significant complications due to emergency medical interventions.

CONCLUSIONS

RP can manifest with nonspecific respiratory symptoms similar to asthma, which may delay correct diagnosis and appropriate treatment, leading to critical airway complications. The early, precise identification of RP, particularly with airway involvement, is vital. MLB and dynamic expiratory CT scans play significant roles in clinical diagnosis and management. A multidisciplinary approach involving otolaryngologists, rheumatologists, and pulmonologists is essential for optimizing patient outcomes and minimizing complications.

[Tracheobronchial involvement in relapsing polychondritis and differential diagnoses]

Relapsing polychondritis is a systemic auto-immune disease that mainly affects cartilage structures, progressing through inflammatory flare-ups between phases of remission and ultimately leading to deformation of the cartilages involved. In addition to characteristic damage of auricular or nasal cartilage, tracheobronchial and cardiac involvement are particularly severe, and can seriously alter the prognosis. Tracheobronchial lesions are assessed by means of a multimodal approach, including dynamic thoracic imaging, measurement of pulmonary function (with recent emphasis on pulse oscillometry), and mapping of tracheal lesions through flexible bronchoscopy. Diagnosis can be difficult in the absence of specific diagnostic tools, especially as there may exist a large number of differential diagnoses, particularly as regards inflammatory diseases. The prognosis has improved, due largely to upgraded interventional bronchoscopy techniques and the development of immunosuppressant drugs and targeted therapies, offering patients a number of treatment options.

Evaluation of airway involvement and treatment in patients with relapsing polychondritis

Airway involvement in relapsing polychondritis (RP) can be debilitating and life threatening, often requiring interventional procedures. If standard therapies including systemic corticosteroid and immunosuppressive agents are ineffective, airway stenting is often required. Recently, biologics have been reported to be effective for RP, and the early administration of biologics may avoid airway stenting. To evaluate survival rates and treatment approaches, medical records of RP patients with airway involvement were reviewed. These cases were divided into the following groups: with and without malacia, stenting and non-stenting, and with and without biologics. Kaplan-Meier was used to calculate survival rates and log rank tests were used to analyze biologics groups. A total of 77 patients were enrolled. Airway stenting was performed in 13 patients, all of which developed airway malacia. The stenting group had significantly lower survival rates than the non-stenting group (p < 0.001). Stent-related complications were granulation tissue (85%) and mucostasis (69%). In the non-stenting group, a lower mortality rate was observed. A significantly higher survival rate was seen in patients administered biologics than without (p = 0.014). The early administration of biologics shows promise in preventing severe airway disorders that require airway stenting.

Forbearance with endobronchial stenting: cognisance before conviction

Endobronchial stenting is an important aspect of the practice of interventional pulmonology. The most common indication for stenting is the management of clinically significant airway stenosis. The list of endobronchial stents available on the market continues to grow. More recently, patient-specific 3D-printed airway stents have been approved for use. Airway stenting should be considered only when all other options have been exhausted. Due to the environment of the airways and the stent-airway wall interactions, stent-related complications are common. Although stents can be placed in various clinical scenarios, they should only be placed in scenarios with proven clinical benefit. The unwarranted placement of a stent can expose the patient to complications with little or no clinical benefit. This article reviews and outlines the key principles of endobronchial stenting and important clinical scenarios in which stenting should be avoided.

Clinical analysis of relapsing polychondritis with airway involvement

OBJECTIVE

To identify the clinical characteristics, treatment, and prognosis of relapsing polychondritis patients with airway involvement.

METHODS

Twenty-eight patients with relapsing polychondritis, hospitalised in the First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University between April 2011 and April 2021, were retrospectively analysed.

RESULTS

Fifty per cent of relapsing polychondritis patients with airway involvement had a lower risk of ear and ocular involvement. Relapsing polychondritis patients with airway involvement had a longer time-to-diagnosis (p < 0.001), a poorer outcome following glucocorticoid combined with immunosuppressant treatment (p = 0.004), and a higher recurrence rate than those without airway involvement (p = 0.004). The rates of positive findings on chest computed tomography and bronchoscopy in relapsing polychondritis patients with airway involvement were 88.9 per cent and 85.7 per cent, respectively. Laryngoscopy analysis showed that 66.7 per cent of relapsing polychondritis patients had varying degrees of mucosal lesions.

CONCLUSION

For relapsing polychondritis patients with airway involvement, drug treatment should be combined with local airway management.

Temporary stenting in a case of bronchomalacia due to relapsing polychondritis

Airway involvement in relapsing polychondritis (RP) can often be debilitating and life threatening. Interventional procedures such as stenting can be useful to improve airway stenosis. This case was diagnosed with RP with a circumferential obstruction at the left main bronchus. We determined that a silicone airway stent would be placed. The silicone stent was removed after 22 months due to granulation tissue. After stent removal, bronchoscopic findings revealed a collapsing left main bronchus during exhalation, but airway patency was maintained during inhalation without any respiratory symptoms. In this case, bronchomalacia remained after stent removal. However, since there were no severe respiratory symptoms, we decided that stent replacement was unnecessary. In general, it is difficult to remove airway stents in severe tracheobronchomalacia; however, temporary stenting might be a useful procedure in cases with unilateral main bronchial stenosis.

Central airway obstruction: is it time to move forward?

INTRODUCTION

Central airway obstruction (CAO) represents a pathological condition that can lead to airflow limitation of the trachea, main stem bronchi, bronchus intermedius or lobar bronchus.

MAIN BODY

It is a common clinical situation consensually considered under-diagnosed. Management of patients with CAO can be difficult and deciding on the best treatment approach represents a medical challenge. This work intends to review CAO classifications, causes, treatments and its therapeutic limitations, approaching benign and malign presentations. Three illustrative cases are further presented, supporting the clinical problem under review.

CONCLUSION

Management of CAO still remains a challenge. The available options are not always effective nor free from complications. A new generation of costume-tailored airway stents, associated with stem cell-based therapy, could be an option in specific clinical situations.

Bronchoscopy-Guided Intervention Therapy With Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Support for Relapsing Polychondritis With Severe Tracheobronchomalacia: A Case Report and Literature Review

Relapsing polychondritis is an immune disorder of unknown etiology involving multiple systems that is characterized by persistent inflammation and destruction of cartilage, including the ears, nose, costal, joint, and airways. Airway involvement caused by relapsing polychondritis is common, and tracheobronchomalacia is the most serious complication, which is life-threatening. Currently, the exact mechanism of relapsing polychondritis with tracheobronchomalacia is unknown. Although glucocorticoids and immunosuppressive agents are administered, failures often occur. Currently, bronchoscopy-guided intervention therapy used in tracheobronchomalacia caused by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or other etiology has gradually increased, but bronchoscopy-guided intervention therapy with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation assist used in tracheobronchomalacia caused by relapsing polychondritis has not been reported. Here, we report a case of relapsing polychondritis with severe tracheobronchomalacia. Although drug therapy was provided and airway stent implantation was performed, the tracheal stenosis was further aggravated. Because conventional anesthesia and mechanical ventilation cannot meet the needs of bronchoscopy-guided intervention therapy or guarantee sufficient safety. The intervention treatment was performed with the support of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, which was successfully completed without obvious complications. The symptoms were significantly improved, and the patient was discharged uneventfully.