A pediatric patient with bilateral tracheobronchial foreign body successfully treated using surgical intervention with extracorporeal circulation: case report and literature review

Unilateral Tracheobronchial foreign body (TFB) present a common clinical disease, whereas bilateral TFB is a rare and acute condition associated with high mortality rates. This case study discusses a pediatric patient hospitalized due to respiratory distress following accidental ingestion of peanut kernels. A plain chest CT scan revealed obstructive emphysema in the right main bronchus and a foreign body at the opening of the left main bronchus. Surgical removal of the bilateral TFB under extracorporeal circulation resulted in a successful postoperative recovery, leading to discharge on the 9th day. A comprehensive literature search was conducted across databases including PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and CNKI, spanning publications from January 2014 to October 2023, utilizing keywords "bronchial foreign body" and "Peanut". After deduplication and relevance screening, 9 pertinent literature sources were included. The objective of this study is to enhance clinical practitioners' understanding of TFB management and improve diagnostic and treatment capabilities through analysis of age of onset, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and treatment approaches in critically ill pediatric patients.

Tracheobronchial schwannoma: a case report and literature review

Primary tracheobronchial schwannoma is extremely rare. A woman in her early 60 s was admitted to our department with a 2-month history of cough and expectoration. Chest computed tomography (CT) revealed a high-density nodule at the opening of the right main bronchus, accompanied by atelectasis in the middle and lower lobes. Flexible bronchoscopy revealed a tumor at the opening of the bronchus of the right middle lung lobe, which protruded into the main bronchus. A high-frequency electrosurgical snare, endobronchial cryosurgery, and argon plasma coagulation (APC) were used under rigid bronchoscopy. Histopathological examination diagnosed the tumor as schwannoma. The patient's symptoms resolved after the operation. Follow-up chest CT showed that the right main bronchus was unobstructed, and the bronchus of the lower lobe was open. Bronchoscopic interventional therapy is an alternative treatment for tracheobronchial schwannoma.

Selection of the access channel in bronchoscopic intervention

BACKGROUND

At present, bronchoscopic intervention has become an important treatment approach for central airway obstruction (CAO). Choosing an appropriate access channel for different patients during this operation has become a research focus.

METHODS

Data of bronchoscopic interventions in 201 patients with CAO in which one of endotracheal intubation, laryngeal mask, or rigid bronchoscope were used as the only access channel were retrospectively reviewed.

RESULTS

The total immediate effective rate was 94.1% (398/423), and the main complications related to the access channels included hypoxemia, elevated arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide, arrhythmia, airway mucosa tear, glottic edema, vocal cord injury, tooth loss, massive bleeding, airway mucosal necrosis, and asphyxia. The incidence of complications was 16.8% (71/423). Glottic edema was the most common complication with an incidence of 7.8% (33/423) and accounted for 46.5% of all complications. Glottic edema only occurred in the laryngeal mask and rigid bronchoscope groups, and the incidence was significantly correlated with the operation time (p < 0.001). Massive bleeding related to the access channel remains the most serious complication.

CONCLUSIONS

Endotracheal intubation, laryngeal mask, and rigid bronchoscope each have their own advantages and disadvantages. The most appropriate access channel should depend on a comprehensive assessment of the patient.

Tracheal reconstruction with the scaffolded cartilage sheets in an orthotopic animal model

Tracheal reconstruction remains challenged in clinical. We aimed to fabricate scaffolded cartilage sheets with rigid and elastic supports for tracheal reconstruction. The chondrocyte cell-infiltration activity was examined in the polycaprolactone sheet scaffolds with various thicknesses and pore sizes after seeding cells on the top surface of the sheet scaffolds. The expression of cartilage-related genes and accumulation of sulfated glycosaminoglycans was elevated in the cells-scaffold composites upon the chondrogenic induction. Mechanical properties of the cartilage sheets were measured by the 3-point flexural test and vertical compression test. Two tracheal defects were replaced with and cartilage sheets implants in a rabbit model for 16 weeks. The formation of the cartilaginous tissues, fibrous tissues, and airway epithelium was observed by Safranin O, Masson trichrome, and hematoxylin & eosin Y histological stains, respectively. The generation of micro-vessels, granulation tissue, and adipose tissues in the tracheal explants were analyzed with immunohistochemistry staining. Finally, cartilage sheets could be a reconstructive therapy candidate applying in reconstructing defects in the trachea and other tissues composed of cartilage.

Emergency rigid bronchoscopy and immunotherapy: successful combination in dramatic respiratory debut of pulmonary adenocarcinoma

Malignant central airway obstruction is a life-threatening condition that often causes respiratory failure. In many cases, treatment of tumor in rigid bronchoscopy must be performed urgently, soothing respiratory symptoms and improving patient quality of life, in many cases reducing time to and allowing application of oncologic therapies. Immuno-oncologic therapies target the immune system selectively and are therefore much less toxic than standard chemotherapies, sometimes leading to outstanding results in advanced cancers for which there were no effective treatments until a few years ago. This report shows the effect of the joint application of rigid bronchoscopy and targeted immunotherapy in an emergency scenario, resulting in an unexpected extraordinary therapeutic success.

Training in interventional pulmonology: What we have learned and a way forward

IP encompasses a complex list of procedures requiring knowledge, technical skills and competence. Modern, learner-centric educational philosophies and an explosion of multidimensional educational tools including manikins, simulators, online resources, social media and formal programs can foster learning in IP, promoting professionalism and a culture of lifelong learning. This paper provides background and guidance to a structured, multidimensional and learner-centric strategy for medical procedural education. Focusing on our experience in IP, we describe how competency-based measures, simulation technology and various teaching modalities contribute to a more uniform learning environment in which patients do not suffer the burdens of procedure-related training.