Long-term quality-adjusted survival following therapeutic bronchoscopy for malignant central airway obstruction

Strength in data and collaboration: The EpiGETIF registry

See related article

Interventional bronchoscopy in lung cancer treatment

Interventional bronchoscopy has seen significant advancements in recent decades, particularly in the context of lung cancer. This method has expanded not only diagnostic capabilities but also therapeutic options. In this article, we will outline various therapeutic approaches employed through either a rigid or flexible bronchoscope in multimodal lung cancer treatment. A pivotal focus lies in addressing central airway obstruction resulting from cancer. We will delve into the treatment of initial malignant changes in central airways and explore the rapidly evolving domain of early peripheral malignant lesions, increasingly discovered incidentally or through lung cancer screening programmes. A successful interventional bronchoscopic procedure not only alleviates severe symptoms but also enhances the patient's functional status, paving the way for subsequent multimodal treatments and thereby extending the possibilities for survival. Interventional bronchoscopy proves effective in treating initial cancerous changes in patients unsuitable for surgical or other aggressive treatments due to accompanying diseases. The key advantage of interventional bronchoscopy lies in its minimal invasiveness, effectiveness and favourable safety profile.

Therapeutic bronchoscopy for malignant central airway obstruction: Introduction to the EpiGETIF registry

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

EpiGETIF is a web-based, multicentre clinical database created in 2019 aiming for prospective collection of data regarding therapeutic rigid bronchoscopy (TB) for malignant central airway obstruction (MCAO).

METHODS

Patients were enrolled into the registry from January 2019 to November 2022. Data were prospectively entered through a web-interface, using standardized definitions for each item. The objective of this first extraction of data was to describe the population and the techniques used among the included centres to target, facilitate and encourage further studies in TB.

RESULTS

Overall, 2118 patients from 36 centres were included. Patients were on average 63.7 years old, mostly male and smokers. Most patients had a WHO score ≤2 (70.2%) and 39.6% required preoperative oxygen support, including mechanical ventilation in 6.7%. 62.4% had an already known histologic diagnosis but only 46.3% had received any oncologic treatment. Most tumours were bronchogenic (60.6%), causing mainly intrinsic or mixed obstruction (43.3% and 41.5%, respectively). Mechanical debulking was the most frequent technique (67.3%), while laser (9.8%) and cryo-recanalization (2.7%) use depended on local expertise. Stenting was required in 54.7%, silicone being the main type of stent used (55.3%). 96.3% of procedure results were considered at least partially successful, resulting in a mean 4.1 points decrease on the Borg scale of dyspnoea. Complications were noted in 10.9%.

CONCLUSION

This study exposes a high volume of TB that could represent a good source of future studies given the dismal amount of data about the effects of TB in certain populations and situations.

Flexible CO2 Laser in Therapeutic Bronchoscopy: Initial Experiences in a Tertiary Center

BACKGROUND

CO2 Laser (CO2L) technology deployable through flexible endoscopes now allows for their use throughout the airway, although published data are limited.

METHODS

Retrospective analysis of CO2L bronchoscopic procedures, excluding glottic and subglottic interventions. Procedural success was defined as >50% visual reduction in airway obstruction in the area treated or resolution of the procedural indication.

RESULTS

Seventy-two procedures were performed on 36 patients. Nonmalignant indications comprised 66%: stent-associated granulation tissue (28%), granulomatosis with polyangiitis lesions (23%), and lung transplant-related granulation tissue (16%) were the most common. Bronchoscopic access was flexible only in 81% and primarily rigid (combined with flexible) in 18%. The site of intervention was the trachea at 19%, the mainstem at 56%, and lobar/segmental airways at 45%. Procedural success was 89%. CO2L was used exclusively in 19%; in 81%, additional techniques were required, most commonly balloon dilation (59%), cryo-debulking (23%), and rigid dilation (16%). Malignant indications had a nonsignificant trend toward requiring adjuvant techniques ( P =0.05). Seventy-six percent of the patients required more than 1 procedure. CO2L exclusive cases had no statistically different needs for subsequent therapeutic bronchoscopies ( P =0.10) or time to reintervention (109 vs. 41 days, P =0.07), and reintervention-free survival was similar ( P =0.10) and difficult to predict. The complication rate attributable to CO2L was 2.7%.

CONCLUSION

CO2L is a safe and useful tool when precise cutting and vaporization are desired. Its use in multi-modality approaches has high levels of success in adequately selected lesions, adding an ablative potential to dilation techniques. Vasculitis-associated scars/webs and granulation tissue (including stent-associated) appear to be ideal targets.

The Prognostic Predictors of Airway Stenting in Malignant Airway Involvement From Esophageal Carcinoma

BACKGROUND

In locoregional esophageal carcinoma (EC), airway involvement is the most common route of extraesophageal metastasis. The prognosis remains poor even with a multimodality approach. Although airway stenting is well known for restoration of the airway, the survival benefit is still lacking.

METHODS

A total of 37 of patients with airway involvement from EC who underwent airway stenting at a single institution from 2015 to 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. Survival curves after stent placement among different groups were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier method.

RESULTS

Of 37 patients, 34 were male, and the mean age was 58.9 years (42 to 80). EC was commonly located at midesophagus (51.4%). The site of airway involvement was left main bronchus (48.6%), trachea (32.4%), multiple sites (16.2%), and right main bronchus (2.7%). The nature of airway involvement was tumor invasion (91.9%), compression (62.2%), and fistula (37.8%). Twenty-three patients (62.2%) had airway involvement at the time of esophageal cancer diagnosis. Only 4 patients underwent esophageal stenting. The median survival time after stent placement was 97 days (5 to 539). Chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy were given before stent placement in 18 patients (48.6%). Treatment-naive before airway stenting and diagnosis of airway involvement at the same time of EC diagnosis were independent predictors for the increased survival after stent placement ( P <0.05). Poststent treatment was associated with improved survival ( P =0.002).

CONCLUSION

In patients with malignant airway involvement from EC who underwent airway stenting, the prognostic predictors for improved survival were treatment-naive status, receiving treatment after airway stenting, and early-onset of airway involvement.

Systematic review of the literature on the occurrence and characteristics of dyspnea in oncology patients

BACKGROUND

Dyspnea is a common and distressing symptom for oncology patients.However, dyspnea is not well-characterized and often underestimated by clinicians. This systematic review summarizes the prevalence, intensity, distress, and impact of dyspnea in oncology patients and identifies research gaps.

METHODS

A search of all of the relevant databases was done from 2009 to May 2022. A qualitative synthesis of the extant literature was performed using established guidelines.

RESULTS

One hundred-seventeen studies met inclusion criteria. Weighted grand mean prevalence of dyspnea in patients with advanced cancer was 58.0%. Intensity of dyspnea was most common dimension evaluated, followed by the impact and distress. Depression and anxiety were the most common symptoms that co-occurred with dyspnea.

CONCLUSION

Numerous methodologic challenges were evident across studies. Future studies need to use valid and reliable measures; evaluate the impact of dyspnea; and determine biomarkers for dyspnea.

Clinical Study of Airway Stent Implantation in the Treatment of Patients with Malignant Central Airway Obstruction

Background. Airway stenting is a therapeutic option for malignant central airway obstructions (MCAO), including both intraluminal and extraluminal obstructions. The objective of this study is to investigate the clinical features and results of long-term improved prognosis for MCAO patients after airway stent implantation. Methods. Ninety-eight MCAO patients who underwent stent placement in our hospital from January 2013 to April 2020 were included in this study. The data included baseline data, clinical characteristics, laboratory test data, stent implantation data, and treatment as well as survival after stent implantation. The survival rates among individuals were compared via log-rank tests. Potential prognostic factors were identified using multivariate cox hazard regression models. Results. A retrospective analysis of these patients was generated. MCAO was mainly caused by lung cancer (53/98, 54.08%), esophageal cancer (22/98, 22.45%), and thyroid cancer (3/98, 3.06%). The median survival time of participants was 5.5 months. Univariate analysis indicated that the survival rate was related to primary disease, ECOG PS score, stent site, hemoglobin (Hb), albumin (ALB), and serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) ( $P<0.05$ ). The cox risk regression model showed that the survival rate was significantly influenced by ECOG PS score (OR = 3.468, 95%CI = 1.426–8.432, $P=0.006$ ) and stent site (OR = 1.544, 95%CI = 1.057–2.255, $P=0.025$ ). Conclusions. Compared with the site of stent placement, the ECOG PS score is the primary factor in the survival rate of MCAO patients after airway stenting.

Self-Expandable Metal Stent in the Management of Malignant Airway Disorders

Background

Self-expanding metallic stent (SEMS) is a palliative therapy for patients with malignant central airway obstruction (CAO) or tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF). Despite this, many patients experience death shortly after SEMS placement.

Aims

We aimed to investigate the effect of SEMS on the palliative treatment between malignant CAO and malignant TEF patients and investigate the associated prognostic factors of the 3-month survival.

Methods

We performed a single-center, retrospective study of malignant CAO or TEF patients receiving SEMS placement. Clinical data were collected using the standardized data abstraction forms. Data were analyzed using SPSS 22.0. A two-sided P-value &lt;0.05 was statistically significant.

Results

106 malignant patients (82 CAO and 24 TEF) receiving SEMS placement were included. The body mass index (BMI), hemoglobin levels, and albumin levels in the malignant TEF group were lower than in the malignant CAO group (all P &lt; 0.05). The procalcitonin levels, C-reactive protein levels, and the proportion of inflammatory lesions were higher in the malignant TEF group than in the malignant CAO group (all P &lt; 0.05). The proportion of symptomatic improvement after the SEMS placement was 97.6% in the malignant CAO group, whereas 50.0% in the malignant TEF group, with a significant difference (P = 0.000). Three months after SEMS placement, the survival rate at was 67.0%, significantly lower in the malignant TEF group than in the malignant CAO group (45.8% vs. 73.2%, P = 0.013). Multivariate analysis revealed that BMI [odds ratio (OR) = 1.841, 95% certificated interval (CI) (1.155-2.935), P = 0.010] and neutrophil percentage [OR = 0.936, 95% CI (0.883–0.993), P = 0.027] were the independent risk factors for patients who survived three months after SEMS placement.

Conclusions

We observed symptom improvement in malignant CAO and TEF patients after SEMS placement. The survival rate in malignant TEF patients after SEMS placement was low, probably due to aspiration pneumonitis and malnutrition. Therefore, we recommend more aggressive treatment modalities in patients with malignant TEF, such as strong antibiotics, nutrition support, and strategic ventilation. More studies are needed to investigate the prognostic factors in patients with malignant airway disorders receiving SEMS placement.

Therapeutic bronchoscopy for malignant central airway obstruction: impact on quality of life and risk-benefit analysis

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Malignant central airway obstruction (CAO) is a common complication in cancer and confers significant symptom burden and reduction in quality of life. Multiple bronchoscopic interventions exist for malignant CAO. In this review, we discuss the role of therapeutic bronchoscopy in the management of malignant CAO, emphasizing its impact on symptom control and quality of life while balancing the risks and benefits of intervention.

RECENT FINDINGS

Significant practice variations exist among practitioners of therapeutic bronchoscopy, and limited data exist to guide real-time clinical decision-making. Recent analyses demonstrate that therapeutic bronchoscopy is effective for symptoms associated with malignant CAO with infrequent complications. These studies also show that many of the improvements in symptoms and quality of life are sustained after intervention and are associated with improved overall survival in patients with malignant CAO. Recent data have also shown that the improvement in symptoms associated with therapeutic bronchoscopy may enable more definitive cancer treatment, further improving patient outcomes.

SUMMARY

Therapeutic bronchoscopy is safe and effective at improving patient-centered outcomes in malignant CAO. Research is ongoing to better understand its optimal role in this setting, refine decision-making regarding advanced bronchoscopic interventions, and further improve patient outcomes.

[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.

Therapeutic bronchoscopy facilitates liberation from mechanical ventilation and improves quality of life for critically ill patients with central airway obstruction

Central airway obstruction (CAO) remains a challenging disease for both patients who are suffering from it and for physicians who are managing it. Patients will frequently present with acute symptoms of respiratory failure that require management in an intensive care unit (ICU). While the true prevalence and incidence of CAO in the ICU setting is unknown, recent estimates suggest that approximately 20-30% of patients with a cancer diagnosis may present with CAO or develop it after diagnosis. Therapeutic bronchoscopy focuses on performing minimally invasive procedures using multiple ablative modalities to recanalize the central airway and alleviate the obstruction. While procedures are usually technically successful, they appear to be underutilized. An individually tailored approach is often used based on patient characteristics, operator preference, and available equipment. After therapeutic bronchoscopy procedures are completed, many patients are successfully liberated from mechanical ventilation (MV) or immediately transferred out of the ICU. Data reviewing the effects of therapeutic bronchoscopy have also shown success in palliation of symptoms, with significant improvement in subjective measures such as patient quality of life and dyspnea and objective values like pulmonary function studies. Given the potential benefits with a low risk profile and high likelihood of technical success, treatment of CAOs with therapeutic bronchoscopy represents a reasonable consideration for patients with acute respiratory failure in the ICU.

Risk-score model to predict prognosis of malignant airway obstruction after interventional bronchoscopy

Background

Interventional bronchoscopy exhibits substantial effects for patients with malignant airway obstruction (MAO), while little information is available regarding the potential prognostic factors for these patients.

Methods

Between October 31, 2016, and July 31, 2019, a total of 150 patients undergoing interventional bronchoscopy and histologically-confirmed MAO were collected, in which 112 eligible participants formed the cohort for survival study. External validation cohort from another independent institution comprised 33 MAO patients with therapeutic bronchoscopy. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression (LASSO) was applied to the model development dataset for selecting features correlated with MAO survival for inclusion in the Cox regression from which we elaborated the risk score system. A nomogram algorithm was also utilized.

Results

In our study, we observed a significant decline of stenosis rate after interventional bronchoscopy from 71.7%±2.1% to 36.6%±2.7% (P<0.001) and interventional bronchoscopy dilated airway effectively. Patients in our study undergoing interventional bronchoscopy had a median survival time of 614.000 days (95% CI: 269.876–958.124). Patients receiving distinct therapeutic methods of interventional bronchoscopy had different prognosis (P=0.022), and patients receiving treatment of electrocoagulation in combination with stenting and electrosurgical snare had worse survival than those receiving other options. Multivariate Cox analysis revealed that nonsmoking status, adenoid cystic carcinoma, and low preoperative stenosis length, as independent predictive factors for better overall survival (OS) of MAO patients. Then, the nomogram based on Cox regression and risk score system based on results from LASSO regression were elaborated respectively. Importantly, this risk score system was proved to have better performance than the nomogram and other single biomarkers such as traditional staging system (area under the curve 0.855 vs. 0.392–0.739). Survival curves showed that patients with the higher risk-score had poorer prognosis than those with lower risk-score (third quantile of OS: 126.000 days, 95% CI: 73.588–178.412 vs. 532.000 days, 95% CI: 0.000–1,110.372; P<0.001).

Conclusions

Nonsmoking status, adenoid cystic carcinoma, and low preoperative stenosis length, were independent predictive factors for better OS of MAO patients. We proposed a nomogram and risk score system for survival prediction of MAO patients undergoing interventional bronchoscopy with good performance.

Tracheobronchial stents in patients with malignant airway disease: Finnish tertiary care experience

OBJECTIVES

Tracheobronchial stenting has an established role in the palliation of malignant central airway obstruction (CAO). The purpose of this study is to describe the experience with self-expanding metal airway stents in 2 tertiary referral centres, covering a third of the population of Finland.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients referred to and treated with airway stenting for malignant CAO using self-expanding metal-stents were identified from electronic patient records, and data were collected using a structured Endoscopic Lower Airway Management instrument. Statistical analysis to reveal factors affecting patient benefit and survival was carried out.

RESULTS

A total of 101 patients (mean age 65.8) and 116 procedures were identified. Procedure-related mortality was rare (3/101 patients) and complications infrequent. The median survival was 2.3 months [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.4-3.1). Stent benefit was not significantly affected by clinical characteristics. Survival was impacted by the use of adjunct procedures [hazard ratio (HR) 0.36, 95% CI: 0.23-0.58, P < 0.001), procedural urgency (HR 0.40; 95% CI: 0.23-0.71, P = 0.002) and post-treatment chemoradiotherapy (HR 0.29, 95% CI: 0.15-0.56, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The beneficial impact observed supports the further use of tracheobronchial stenting in malignant CAO. The use of self-expanding metal stents is encouraged.

Customization of stent design for treating malignant airway stenosis with the aid of three-dimensional printing

Background

The treatment of malignant stenosis involving the carina or bronchi is challenging due to complicated anatomy with individual variation, which makes it necessary to customize stents for each patient. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the feasibility of a novel metallic segmented airway stent customized with the aid of three-dimensional (3D) printing for such cases.

Methods

The stents were individually customized with the aid of a 3D printed mold based on computed tomography (CT) images according to the anatomical features of the airway. A segmented design was applied on the junction part of the main stem and the branches to fit the dynamic changes of the carina angle. In 12 patients with airway stenosis caused by malignancies including esophageal cancer (EC) and lung cancer (LC), the stents were implanted. The technical and clinical success of the stenting procedure, Hugh-Jones (HJ) classification, Karnofsky performance status (KPS), and stent-related complications of patients were evaluated.

Results

The stenting procedure was technically successful in all patients, and 11 patients showed significant palliation of dyspnea after stenting. The HJ and KPS classification of patients after stent insertion improved significantly compared with those before stenting (P=0.003 and P=0.006, respectively). During follow-up, granulation tissue proliferation and sputum retention were found in two and four patients, respectively.

Conclusions

This study shows that the implantation of a novel stent designed with the aid of 3D printing is feasible for relieving dyspnea and improving performance status of patients with inoperable malignant stenosis involving the carina or bronchi.

Bronchoscopic Treatment of Airway Obstructions With a Novel Electrosurgical Device

OBJECTIVES

Airway obstructions (AOs) in the central airway or lobar bronchi develop due to malignant or benign disease. Because of the morbidity and mortality associated with AO, it is important to develop additional therapeutic ablative techniques. CoreCath2.7S is a novel monopolar radiofrequency electrosurgical device approved to treat obstructions of the upper airway and tracheobronchial tree by both cutting soft tissue and providing electrosurgical hemostasis. We present a large case series describing its use.

METHODS

Retrospective chart review was performed of all patients with AO undergoing airway recanalization with CoreCath2.7S at 2 interventional pulmonology practices from October 2017 to May 2019. Demographic information, AO etiology, location, and degree, and therapeutic modalities used were recorded.

RESULTS

Fifty-three patients underwent 64 procedures for AO due to malignant (n=30, 57%) or benign (n=23, 43%) disease. AOs were treated in the trachea (n=28), mainstem bronchi (n=23), and lobar bronchi (n=17). All AO occluded the airway at least 50%. Adjunctive therapeutic modalities were commonly used (n=60, 94%), including flexible cryoprobe (n=33), balloon dilation (n=23), rigid bronchoscopy (n=19), spray cryotherapy (n=19), argon plasma coagulation (n=14), and stenting (n=5). Restoration of airway patency was achieved in all cases without any periprocedural or immediate postprocedural complications.

CONCLUSION

CoreCath2.7S was successfully used to treat patients with AO due to malignant or benign disease. Airway patency was restored with no periprocedural or immediate postprocedural complications. It should be considered as another therapeutic modality in the growing field of ablative techniques for the treatment of AO.

Therapeutic bronchoscopy for central airway diseases

Over the past century rigid bronchoscopy has been established as the main therapeutic means for central airway diseases of both benign and malignant aetiology. Its use requires general anaesthesia and mechanical ventilation usually in the form of manual or high-frequency jet ventilation. Techniques applied to regain patency of the central airways include mechanical debulking, thermal ablation (laser, electrocautery and argon plasma coagulation) and cryo-surgery. Each of these techniques have their advantages and limitations and best results can be attained by combining different modalities according to the type, location and extent of the airway blockage. If needed, deployment of airway endoprostheses (stents), as either fixed-diameter silicone or self-expandable metal stents, may preserve the airways patency often at the cost of several complications. Newer generation of customised stents either three-dimensional printed or drug-eluting stents constitute a promise for improved safety and efficacy results in the near future. Treating central disease of benign or malignant aetiology, foreign body aspiration or massive bleeding in the airways requires a structured approach with combined techniques, a dedicated team of professionals and experience to treat eventual complications. Specific training and fellowships in interventional pulmonology should therefore be offered to those who wish to specialise in this field.

Integrated intErventional bronchoscopy in the treatment of locally adVanced non-small lung cancER with central Malignant airway Obstructions: a multicentric REtrospective study (EVERMORE)

OBJECTIVES

Despite new therapeutic perspectives, the presence of central airways occlusion (CAO) in patients with locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is associated with poor survival. There is no clear evidence on the clinical impact of interventional bronchoscopy as a part of an integrated treatment to cure these patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This retrospective cohort study was conducted in two teaching hospitals over a 10 years period (January 2010-January 2020) comparing patients with NSCLC at stage IIIB and CAO at disease onset treated with chemotherapy/radiotherapy (standard therapy-ST) with those receiving interventional bronchoscopy plus ST (integrated treatment-IT). Primary outcome was 1-year survival. The onset of respiratory events, symptoms-free interval, hospitalization, need for palliation, and overall mortality served as secondary outcomes.

RESULTS

A total of 100 patients were included, 60 in the IT and 40 in the ST group. Unadjusted Kaplan-Meier estimates showed greater effect of IT compared to ST on 1-year survival (HR = 2.1 95%CI[1.1-4.8], p = 0.003). IT showed a significantly higher survival gain over ST in those patients showing KRAS mutation (7.6 VS 0.8 months,<0.0001), a lumen occlusion >65% (6.6 VS 2.9 months,<0.001), and lacking the involvement of left bronchus (7 VS 2.3 months,<0.0001). Compared to ST, IT also showed a favorable difference in terms of new hospitalizations (p = 0.03), symptom-free interval (p = 0.02), and onset of atelectasis (p = 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with NSCLC stage IIIB and CAO, additional interventional bronchoscopy might impact on 1-year survival. Genetic and anatomic phenotyping might allow identifying those patients who may gain life expectancy from the endoscopic intervention.

Indications and clinical outcomes of fully covered self-expandable metallic tracheobronchial stents in patients with malignant airway diseases

BACKGROUND

Airway stenting is an efficacious approach in management of malignant airway disease (MAD) with improvement in survival outcome.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the indications and long-term clinical outcomes of tracheobronchial stenting in patients with MAD.

METHODS

A cross-sectional review of 51 patients who underwent airway stenting from June 2011 to June 2019 was done. Paired t-test was used to compare mean difference of clinical characteristics between pre- and post-airway stenting. Kaplan-Meier curves were used to assess overall survival.

RESULTS

A total of 51 patients had stent insertion with mean age 46.63±17.10years including 27(52.9%) females. Mainly 37(72.5%) patients had esophageal and 06(11.8%) had lung cancer. The main indications were bronchial stenosis 18(35.3%), tracheal stenosis 11(21.6%) and Tracheo-esophageal/bronchial fistula 13(25.5%). Obstruction was intrinsic, extrinsic and mixed in 20(39.2%), 13(25.5%) and 5(9.8%) patients, respectively. There was statistically significant mean difference in pre- and post-procedure oxygen saturation (mean (M)=89.8, standard deviation (SD)=6.70 vs M =95.5,SD=2.54.p =0.001) and performance status (M =3.65,SD =0.6 vs M =2.59, SD=0.83.p =0.001). Overall median survival was 16±3.44 weeks, highest amongst patients with intrinsic obstruction (27±6.51 weeks).

CONCLUSION

Airway stenting is an effective endoscopic procedure to re-establish airway patency in MAD with minimal complications..

Recent Advances in Interventional Pulmonology

The field of interventional pulmonology has grown rapidly since first being defined as a subspecialty of pulmonary and critical care medicine in 2001. The interventional pulmonologist has expertise in minimally invasive diagnostic and therapeutic procedures involving airways, lungs, and pleura. In this review, we describe recent advances in the field as well as up-and-coming developments, chiefly from the perspective of medical practice in the United States. Recent advances include standardization of formalized training, new tools for the diagnosis and potential treatment of peripheral lung nodules (including but not limited to robotic bronchoscopy), increasingly well-defined bronchoscopic approaches to management of obstructive lung diseases, and minimally invasive techniques for maximizing patient-centered outcomes for those with malignant pleural effusion.

[Current Status and Development of Interventional Techniques for Pulmonary Diseases]

Bronchoscope is the core part of the interventional diagnosis and treatment technology for lung diseases, which has experienced more than 100 years of development history. It has gradually formed a diagnosis and treatment model of pulmonary diseases with cooperation of multi-clinical disciplines, deep integration of interventional minimally invasive techniques, and cross-integration of diversified diagnosis and treatment concepts. This article aimed to review the current status and development of interventional diagnosis and treatment techniques for lung diseases, and introduces the characteristics of the interventional treatment of our center.

[Minimally Invasive Therapies for Early Stage Non-small Cell Lung Cancer]

肺癌是目前全球最常见的癌症和癌症死亡的主要原因，其中非小细胞肺癌（non-small-cell lung cancer, NSCLC）约占肺癌总数的85%。随着计算机断层扫描（computed tomography, CT）等影像学筛查手段得到不断普及，肺癌的病理类型从以往以晚期中央型肺鳞癌为主，转变为现在的以早期周围型磨玻璃样结节等为表现的肺腺癌为主。肺癌的早诊早治有着重要意义，而微创介入技术的不断发展完善，使得肺癌治疗有了更多的选择，例如立体定向放射、经皮穿刺消融、支气管介入等。本文将就目前临床常见的这些微创介入治疗的作用原理、优势、不足及展望做一评述。

Therapeutic Bronchoscopic Techniques Available to the Pulmonologist: Emerging Therapies in the Treatment of Peripheral Lung Lesions and Endobronchial Tumors

Therapeutic bronchoscopy for both endobronchial tumors and peripheral lung cancer is rapidly evolving. The expected increase in early stage lung cancer detection and significant improvement in near real-time imaging for diagnostic bronchoscopy has led to the development of bronchoscopy-delivered ablative technologies. Therapies targeting obstructing central airway tumors for palliation and as a method of local disease control, patient selection and patient-centered outcomes have been areas of ongoing research. This review focuses on patient selection when considering therapeutic bronchoscopy and new and developing technologies for endobronchial tumors and reviews the status of bronchoscopy-delivered ablative tools for peripheral lung cancers.

Clinical and radiographic predictors of successful therapeutic bronchoscopy for the relief of malignant central airway obstruction

Background

Malignant central airway obstruction (CAO) occurs in approximately 20–30% of patients with lung cancer and is associated with debilitating symptoms and poor prognosis. Multimodality therapeutic bronchoscopy can relieve malignant CAO, though carries risk. Evidence to guide clinicians regarding which patients may benefit from such interventions is sparse. We aimed to assess the clinical and radiographic predictors associated with therapeutic bronchoscopy success in relieving malignant CAO.

Methods

We reviewed all cases of therapeutic bronchoscopy performed for malignant CAO at our institution from January 2010–February 2017. Therapeutic bronchoscopy success was defined as establishing airway patency of > 50%. Patient demographics and baseline characteristics, oncology history, degree of airway obstruction, procedural interventions, and complications were compared between successful and unsuccessful groups. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression identified the significant clinical and radiographic predictors for therapeutic success. The corresponding simple and conditional odds ratio were calculated. A time-to-event analysis with Kaplan–Meier plots was performed to estimate overall survival.

Results

During the study period, 301 therapeutic bronchoscopies were performed; 44 (14.6%) were considered unsuccessful. Factors associated with success included never vs current smoking status (OR 5.36, 95% CI:1.45–19.74, p = 0.010), patent distal airway on CT imaging (OR 15.11, 95% CI:2.98–45.83, p < 0.0001) and patent distal airway visualized during bronchoscopy (OR 10.77, 95% CI:3.63–31.95, p < 0.001) in univariate analysis. Along with patent distal airway on CT imaging, increased time from radiographic finding to therapeutic bronchoscopy was associated with lower odds of success in multivariate analysis (OR 0.96, 95% CI:0.92–1.00, p = 0.048). Median survival was longer in the successful group (10.2 months, 95% CI:4.8–20.2) compared to the unsuccessful group (6.1 months, 95% CI:2.1–10.8, log rank p = 0.015).

Conclusions

Predictors associated with successful therapeutic bronchoscopy for malignant CAO include distal patent airway visualized on CT scan and during bronchoscopy. Odds of success are higher in non-smokers, and with decreased time from radiographic finding of CAO to intervention.

Outcomes of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer and airway obstruction treated with photodynamic therapy and non-photodynamic therapy ablation modalities

Background

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with central airway obstruction (CAO) may have better survival on systemic therapy if the airway patency is successfully restored by bronchoscopic interventions. It remains unclear which therapeutic bronchoscopic modality [laser, stenting, external beam radiation, brachytherapy and photodynamic therapy (PDT)] used for restoring airway patency positively affects outcomes in these patients. We analyzed the effectiveness of PDT in terms of mortality, and time to subsequent treatments in patients with stage III and IV NSCLC.

Methods

Study used Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Medicare linked data. We categorized NSCLC patients diagnosed between 2000 and 2011 and with stage III and IV, into three treatment groups: PDT + radiation ± chemotherapy, non-PDT ablation therapy + radiation ± chemotherapy, and radiation + chemotherapy. We analyzed all-cause and cause-specific mortality using Cox proportional hazard models with an inverse probability weighted propensity score adjustment. Time to subsequent treatment was analyzed using GLM model.

Results

For the PDT group, hazard for all-cause and cause-specific mortality was comparable to the radiation + chemotherapy group (HR =1.03, 95% CI: 0.73-1.45; and HR =1.04, 95% CI: 0.71-1.51, respectively). The non-PDT ablation group had higher hazard for all-cause (HR =1.22, 95% CI: 1.13-1.33) and cause-specific mortality (HR =1.10, 95% CI: 1.01-1.20), compared to the radiation + chemotherapy group. The PDT group had longer time to follow-up treatment, compared to non-PDT ablation group.

Conclusions

In our exploratory study of stage III and IV NSCLC patients with CAO, addition of PDT demonstrated hazard of mortality comparable to radiation + chemotherapy group. However, addition of non-PDT ablation showed higher mortality compared to the radiation + chemotherapy group. Future studies should investigate the efficacy and effectiveness of multimodal therapy including radiation, chemo, immunotherapy and bronchoscopic interventions.

Prevalence and outcome of central airway obstruction in patients with lung cancer

Introduction

Central airway obstruction (CAO) is a life-threatening complication of lung cancer. The prevalence of CAO in lung cancer patients is unknown. We audited CAO burden to inform our local cancer service.

Methods

This is a cohort review of all new lung cancer diagnoses between 1 November 2014 and 30 November 2015. CAO was defined by CT appearance. CT scans and routine patient records were followed up to 30 November 2018 to determine the prevalence of CAO at diagnosis; the characteristics of patients with prevalent CAO; mortality (using survival analysis); and incident CAO over follow-up.

Results

Of 342 new lung cancer diagnoses, CAO prevalence was 13% (95% CI 10% to 17%; n=45/342). Dedicated CT scan review identified missed CAO in 14/45 (31%) cases. In patients with prevalent CAO, 27/44 (61%) had a performance status of ≤2, 23/45 (51%) were diagnosed during an acute admission and 36/44 (82%) reported symptoms. Treatments were offered to 32/45 (71%); therapeutic bronchoscopy was performed in only 8/31 (26%) eligible patients. Median survival of patients with prevalent CAO was 94 (IQR 33–274) days. Multivariate analysis, adjusting for age, gender and disease stage, found CAO on index CT scan was independently associated with an increased hazard of death (adjusted HR 1.78 (95% CI 1.27 to 2.48); p=0.001). In total, 15/297 (5%) developed CAO during follow-up (median onset 340 (IQR 114–551) days). Over the audit period, 60/342 (18%; 95% CI 14% to 22%) had or developed CAO.

Discussions

This is the first description of CAO prevalence in 40 years. Patients with prevalent CAO had a higher mortality. Our data provide a benchmark for service planning.

A Design-Based Stereologic Method to Quantify the Tissue Changes Associated with a Novel Drug-Eluting Tracheobronchial Stent

BACKGROUND

Granulation tissue is a common complication of airway stenting, but no published methods can quantify the volume and type of tissue that develops.

OBJECTIVE

To use design-based stereology to quantify changes in tissue volume and type associated with airway stenting.

METHODS

We compared drug-eluting stents (DES) filled with gendine to standard silicone stents in pigs in an assessor-blinded randomized trial. Tracheal stents were placed via rigid bronchoscopy. After 1 month, animals were euthanized and necropsies were performed. Antimicrobial effects of the DES were assessed in trachea tissue samples, on the DES surface, and with residual gel from the DES reservoir. Tracheal thickness was measured using orthogonal intercepts. Design-based stereology was used to quantify the volume density of tissues using a point-counting method. The volume of each tissue was normalized to cartilage volume, which is unaffected by stenting.

RESULTS

Pigs were randomized to DES (n = 36) or control stents (n = 9). The drug was successfully eluted from the DES, and the stent surface showed antibacterial activity. DES and controls did not differ in tissue microbiology, tracheal thickness, or granulation tissue volume. Compared to nonstented controls, stented airways demonstrated a 110% increase in soft-tissue volume (p = 0.005). Submucosal connective tissue (118%; p < 0.0001), epithelium (70%; p < 0.0001), submucosal glands (47%; p = 0.001), and smooth muscle (41%; p < 0.0001) increased in volume.

CONCLUSION

Stenting doubles the volume of soft tissue in the trachea. Design-based stereology can quantify the tissue changes associated with airway stenting.