Influence of bronchial circulation and corticosteroid therapy on bronchial anastomotic healing

In order to assess the effect of revascularization on the healing of bronchial anastomoses in a canine model, we developed a microsurgical technique that permits the immediate reperfusion of the distal bronchial segment by a direct anastomosis of the bronchial artery to an intercostal artery. This technique was applied to dogs that underwent hilar stripping and bronchial transection and reanastomosis, and it prevented the development of ischemic bronchial damage. In addition, several groups of dogs that had undergone bronchial transection and reanastomosis and, in some cases, reestablishment of bronchial arterial circulation, were treated with 40 mg of prednisone daily for periods of 7 and 21 days. The animals treated with corticosteroids demonstrated a lesser degree of inflammatory damage to the bronchial anastomotic site than similar groups of untreated animals. These findings support the hypothesis that restoration of bronchial arterial blood flow at the time of lung transplantation can reduce anastomotic damage to the distal or donor bronchial component. Our results further suggest that corticosteroid therapy alone does not increase bronchial anastomotic damage, and, in fact, may reduce inflammation at the bronchial anastomotic site.     

Value of radiotherapy for tumour on the bronchial stump after resection for bronchial carcinoma.

Two groups have been selected from 1000 patients who had lobectomy or pneumonectomy for bronchial carcinoma. The first group was of 26 patients with tumour affecting the mucosa of the resected bronchial margin reported histologically at the time of surgery. Twelve of these were given postoperative radiotherapy but with no apparent benefit, either in the incidence of recurrence of tumour at the bronchial stump or in five-year survival. The second group was of 17 patients who developed recurrence of tumour at the bronchial stump, bronchoscopically confirmed, some time after surgery. In six of these cases the recurrence was detected while it was confined to the bronchial stump region, and these patients were then given radiotherapy. Five of the six survived five years after radiotherapy, with complete eradication of the tumour recurrence confirmed by repeat bronchoscopy. In 11 cases the tumour recurrence was not detected until it had become more extensive. Radiotherapy may also have prolonged survival in some of these patients, although none survived five years.     

Residual carcinoma in bronchial resection line

Microscopic residual tumour growth was found postoperatively in the bronchial resection lines in 44 out of a total of 1069 patients who underwent resection for pulmonary carcinoma. Bronchopleural fistula developed in six of these patients (13.6%). The incidence of bronchopleural fistula in the material overall was 4.2% (45 patients). Residual carcinoma therefore seemed to impair healing of the bronchial stump (p less than 0.01). Routine intraoperative frozen sections of the bronchial resection line can be recommended in order to reveal the residual carcinoma and thus lower the incidence of bronchopleural fistula. The five-year survival rate of these patients with microscopic residual carcinoma in their bronchial resection lines was similar to that in patients with the same TNM staging who had undergone resection for pulmonary carcinoma. Residual carcinoma in the bronchial resection line therefore did not worsen prognoses. The survival rate in our patients was better than survival rates reported for other series. Most of our patients had received postoperative radiotherapy. Previous reports relate to patients treated only surgically. Postoperative radiotherapy may therefore improve the prognosis in patients with residual tumour growth in their bronchial resection lines.     

Tissue adhesive in bronchial closure

Monomeric n-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate was used in 25 patients undergoing pulmonary resections to strengthen the bronchial stump after pneumonectomy (n = 11) and to aid bronchial (n = 13) and tracheal anastomosis (n = 1) after sleeve resections. Neither group had any incidence of bronchopleural fistula. Bronchial anastomosis was accomplished in patients who underwent sleeve resection, reducing the number of sutures required to four apposing sutures, with the tissue adhesive ensuring an airtight closure. There was no incidence of bronchial stenosis. The efficacy of n-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate in preventing fistula formation after bronchial resections makes it an ideal agent in pulmonary surgery. Its use obviated the use of pedicled pleural flap, thus ensuring pleural integrity for extrapleural continuous intercostal nerve blockade for postoperative analgesia.     

Surgical treatment of bronchial fistulas after pneumonectomy

The results of surgical treatment of 9 patients with bronchial fistulas after pneumonectomy have been analysed. During the reoperation the bronchial stump was wrapped by the omental flap with vascular pedicle (omentoplasty). In 6 patients omentoplasty was used in urgent repeated transpleural operations, in 3--during the late operations from transsternal transpericardial approach. Wedge resection of the tracheal bifurcation with omentoplasty from transsternal transpericardial approach was performed in 2 patients with a short bronchial stump. 2 patients died after surgery: one--from cardiopulmonary failure, the other one--from the relapse of bronchial fistula. Omentoplasty in patients with primary bronchial fistulas proved to be effective. It is advisable to perform reoperations during the 1st day after complications developed.     

Implications of histologically reported residual tumour on the bronchial margin after resection for bronchial carcinoma.

A group of 64 cases with histologically reported residual tumour on the bronchial margin after resection for bronchial carcinoma has been examined. Carcinoma in situ of the bronchial mucosa was described in nine cases, invasive carcinoma of the bronchial mucosa in 29, peribronchial malignancy in 18, and lymphatic permeation in eight. Survival with peribronchial malignancy and lymphatic permeation was poor. Nevertheless, the finding of earlier workers that residual mucosal tumour at the margin of the resected bronchus may not adversely affect survival has been confirmed. The reason for the prolonged survival of some patients despite reported tumours of the bronchial stump mucosa may be that such reports are sometimes artefactual, and two possible mechanisms for this are discussed.     

支气管动脉CTA对支气管动脉栓塞术的指导作用

目的探讨支气管动脉CTA对支气管动脉栓塞术(BAE)的指导作用。方法回顾性分析48例先后接受支气管动脉CTA及BAE的咯血病例,利用CTA MPR、VR及MIP技术准确、清晰记录支气管动脉分布情况、起源位置及方位、形态改变及非支气管动脉供血情况,并与BAE术中造影结果进行对比。结果 46例咯血患者(除外2例肺栓塞患者)CTA共检出102支支气管动脉,其中57支起源于T5~6椎体水平降主动脉,左侧支气管动脉供血6例,右侧支气管动脉供血9例,双侧支气管动脉共同供血31例;支气管动脉造影(BAG)检出的支气管动脉分布为左侧支气管动脉供血8例,右侧支气管动脉供血13例,双侧支气管动脉共同供血25例,两种方法检出的支气管动脉分布类型差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。CTA检出起源于降主动脉其他水平及其他体循环动脉(异常起源)45支,BAG检出2支。支气管动脉CTA检出20支支气管肋间动脉干,BAG检出4支。CTA检出11例非支气管动脉供血,BAG检出8例。在显示支气管肋间动脉干、非支气管动脉尤其是异常起源的支气管动脉方面,CTA优于BAG。结论支气管动脉CTA准确率高,可以为BAE提供详细的解剖信息,优化治疗方案,提高栓塞的准确率及效率,降低漏栓率。     

Instrumental bronchial tears

Two case reports of bronchial tears following airway instrumentation are presented, one of which resulted in death. Both patients developed pneumothoraces and other complications after attempts had been made under general anaesthesia to insert bronchial stents. It appeared that bronchial tears were made during instrumentation with the stent introducer and these cases demonstrate that great care should be taken when rigid materials, such as plastic guides and bougies, are used blindly in the airway.     

Successful bronchial revascularization in experimental single lung transplantation

It is the purpose of this paper to report our experience with bronchial artery revascularization in an experimental model of single lung transplantation in swine. Thirty-three large white pigs weighing 20-40 kg underwent left lung allotransplantation. In 24 animals, bronchial artery revascularization was attempted by anastomizing the aortic patch containing the bronchial artery orifice with the recipient descending aorta. Eight survivors were put to death on postoperative days 11-15; five animals were put to death or died on postoperative days 2-9; the other animals died intra-operatively or within a few hours. Preservation of left bronchial vascularization was achieved in all cases attempted, as documented by post-mortem injection of dye (methylene blue) or contrast medium. Five of the 8 animals surviving for 11-15 days showed diffuse graft hepatization, associated with diffuse vascular thrombosis. Whether this was caused by damage to the endothelium due to poor graft preservation or by rejection was unclear. In animals surviving for 11-15 days without gross lung pathology, the anastomosis and bronchial mucosa were completely normal; in contrast, bronchial ischaemic changes were found in nonrevascularized animals and in survivors with graft hepatization. Our experience confirms that re-anastomosis of the bronchial arteries can prevent bronchial healing problems in single lung transplantation. The pig is an ideal model for these experiments since the bronchial arteries have a constant common aortic origin, allowing easy identification and preservation of left bronchial vascularization.     

Fibreoptic bronchoscopy: effect of multiple bronchial biopsies on diagnostic yield in bronchial carcinoma.

The findings in bronchial biopsy specimens obtained at fibreoptic bronchoscopy in 271 patients with bronchial carcinoma were reviewed. Fifty-nine per cent of 703 specimens taken from the site of bronchoscopically visible tumours in 215 patients provided evidence of carcinoma. Unequivocal histological evidence of carcinoma was obtained in 78.6% of the 215 patients with visible tumours. When only one biopsy specimen was taken evidence of carcinoma was obtained in 65.2% of cases. At least five biopsy specimens were required to provide a greater than 90% probability of obtaining at least one positive sample. The anatomical site of the tumour had no significant effect on the proportion of biopsy specimens that were positive or the frequency of obtaining at least one positive sample. When extrinsic bronchial compression was the only visible abnormality evidence of carcinoma was obtained by bronchial biopsy in 26.8% of 56 cases.     

Relation between the bronchial obstructive response to inhaled lipopolysaccharide and bronchial responsiveness to histamine.

BACKGROUND: Bronchoconstriction has developed after inhalation of lipopolysaccharide in a dose of 20 micrograms in asthmatic patients and of 200 micrograms in normal subjects. This study set out to determine whether the bronchial response to lipopolysaccharide was related to non-specific bronchial responsiveness and atopy. METHODS: Sixteen subjects with a fall in specific airway conductance of 40% (PD40sGaw) after inhaling up to 900 micrograms histamine inhaled 20 micrograms lipopolysaccharide (from Escherichia coli type 026:B6) a week after bronchial challenge with a control solution of saline. The bronchial response over five hours was measured as change in FEV1 and area under the FEV1-time curve. RESULTS: FEV1 fell significantly more after lipopolysaccharide than after diluent inhalation, the difference in mean (SE) FEV1 being 4.6% (5.4%); response was maximal 60 minutes after lipopolysaccharide inhalation and lasted more than five hours. Histamine PD20FEV1 and PD40sGaw correlated with the fall in FEV1 after lipopolysaccharide inhalation. There was no difference in the proportions of responders and non-responders to lipopolysaccharide who were atopic. CONCLUSION: Lipopolysaccharide induced bronchial obstruction is associated with non-specific responsiveness but not with atopy.     

A new bronchial blocker tube for one-lung ventilation

One-lung ventilation is used to facilitate thoracic and cardiac surgery. This article describes the development and clinical use of a new device, the bronchial blocker tube, to establish one-lung ventilation. The bronchial blocker tube has two circular lumen joined together, one for ventilation and one for acceptance of a bronchial blocker. In this setting, the bronchial blocker is a separate device which is replaceable, rotatable, and removable. In the authors' experience, the bronchial blocker tube was effective and easy to use.     

创伤性支气管断裂的诊断及治疗

目的探讨创伤性气管、支气管断裂的诊断和治疗方法,提高诊断率及治疗效果。方法回顾性分析21例创伤性支气管断裂患者的临床资料。10例行支气管修补术,8例行支气管重建术,2例保守治疗,1例行全肺切除术。术后多次行纤维支气管镜检查,同时吸痰并修剪吻合口肉芽组织,保持通畅。结果18例行支气管修补或支气管重建患者有1例因支气管针尖样狭窄行右中下肺叶切除术,余均通畅良好,肺复张满意。结论创伤性支气管断裂容易误诊,纤维支气管镜检查是早期诊断最重要的手段,后期在切除狭窄段支气管时瘢痕要切除干净。     

Thoracoscopic surgery using a new bronchial blocker

We report use of a new bronchial blocker through a single-lumen endotracheal tube to achieve one-lung ventilation to perform thoracoscopic operation in patients in whom placement of the double-lumen tube failed and difficult intubation is predicted. The bronchial blocker tube was placed into the aimed bronchus under the bronchoscopic vision and the cuff of the blocker was inflated to achieve one-lung ventilation. In all of the 4 patients, the bronchial blocker could be inserted and placed safely, quickly, and exactly under the fiberoptic flexible bronchoscopic vision to perform thoracoscopic operation without any complications. The new bronchial blocker tube through the indwelling endotracheal tube may have advantages in situations where placement of double-lumen endotracheal tubes is technically impossible or inappropriate. The use of the new bronchial blocker tube will, however, require careful evaluation in larger series.     

儿童支气管哮喘发病的危险因素分析

目的：探讨儿童支气管哮喘发病的危险因素。方法选取就诊于我院的儿童支气管患儿176例纳入哮喘组,同时选取同期正常儿童176例纳入正常组。首先采用SPSS17.0作单因素分析可能引起儿童支气管哮喘的发病因素17项,筛选出P＜0.05的单因素作Logistic回归模型的自变量,作多因素分析,得出影响儿童支气管哮喘的高危因素。结果经单因素分析结果显示,影响儿童支气管哮喘的单因素共有10项,且P＜0.05,与正常组对比具有统计学意义。Logistic多因素回归分析结果显示,影响儿童支气管哮喘的高危因素为呼吸道感染、家族哮喘史、未补充鱼肝油、家人吸烟,且母乳喂养是哮喘的保护因素。结论积极预防儿童哮喘的高危因素,提高保护意识,对于预防和控制儿童哮喘具有重要意义。     

Oncocytes in human bronchial mucous glands

Oncocytes were found in the bronchial glands of 30 of 33 lungs in which the left bronchial tree was examined. They were found with similar frequency in the main, upper and lower lobe bronchi. They were found more commonly with increasing age and were most frequent in the collecting duct of the bronchial glands. However, they were absent from the collecting duct in 14 cases. They were not increased in chronic bronchitics. It is unlikely that bronchial oncocytes have a specific function in bronchial gland ducts but they may represent a curious form of degeneration of epithelial cells as do oncocytes in other organs.     

Normal bronchial healing without bronchial wrapping in canine lung transplantation.

The deleterious effect of steroids on bronchial healing in lung transplantation has led to the development of techniques to protect the anastomosis and to the exclusion of steroid-dependent patients from transplantation. The effect of steroids on bronchial healing was tested in a canine single-lung allotransplantation model. Twenty size-matched mongrel dogs (20 to 30 kg) underwent left lung transplantation without anastomotic wrap or direct revascularization. Postoperatively, all received daily doses of cyclosporine (15 mg/kg) and azathioprine (1 mg/kg) and were subdivided into three steroid dosage groups. Group A (n = 10) animals received 1.5 mg/kg of prednisone per day whereas groups B (n = 5) and C (n = 5) received 5.0 mg/kg of prednisone per day for 28 postoperative days. In addition, group C received prednisone (5.0 mg.kg-1.day-1) for 1 month preoperatively. In group A, 8 of 10 dogs survived 28 days without evidence of respiratory compromise, with anastomotic bursting pressure greater than 510 mm Hg. In group B, all 5 dogs survived to 28 days without evidence of respiratory compromise and with intact bronchial anastomoses (bursting pressures greater than 510 mm Hg). In group C, 3 of 5 animals survived to 28 days with intact anastomoses. Histological examination demonstrated normal bronchial healing in all anastomoses. These data suggest that preoperative steroid dependence should not be a contraindication to lung transplantation and that bronchial anastomotic wrapping with vascular tissue may not be essential.     

Gruentzig balloon catheter dilation for acquired bronchial stenosis in an infant

A long stricture of the left main bronchus, which was resistant to the traditional methods of treatment, developed in a 992-gm twin who was ventilated for 114 days. The patient had two bronchial dilations with the Gruentzig balloon catheter placed under fluoroscopic control and inflated to 6 atm of pressure. The treatment was well tolerated by the patient, and one year after the Gruentzig balloon dilation she had a normal chest roentgenogram. Gruentzig balloon catheter dilation is a new technique for repairing bronchial stenosis in infancy without major intrathoracic surgical intervention.     

支气管K细胞癌临床行为的观察

目的 了解支气管Ｋ细胞癌的恶性度、间表现及预后等差异。方法 回顾性分析了经光镜电镜或免疫组化检查确诊的支气管典型类癌２４例,在典型类癌１９例和小细胞肺癌３２５例资料。结果 小细胞肺癌男性多,典型、非典型类癌女性多;典型类癌病人平均年龄小于非典型类癌和小细胞肺癌者,且平均病程长,而小细胞肺癌病程短,非典型类癌者居中;镜下典型类癌息肉样病变多,非典型类癌和小细胞肺癌菜花病变多;典型类癌活检阳性率低于非     

Video-mediastinoscopic resection of a long bronchial stump and reclosure of bronchial insufficiency after pneumonectomy

Bronchial stump insufficiency after pneumonectomy is a severe problem and there is still debate about the appropriate method (transthoracic or transsternal) for reclosure. Access through a sterile operative field for a successful redo-procedure seems to be important so an alternative to the open methods could be the video-mediastinoscopy as it allows approaching the bronchial stump via the mediastinum. Previously in 1996 Azorin performed the first mediastinoscopic reclosure by stapling an early insufficiency after left pneumonectomy. We report the first case to our knowledge of resection and reclosure in bronchial stump insufficiency via mediastinoscopy. An HIV-positive man presented with late bronchial stump insufficiency after left pneumonectomy for lung cancer. The cause was a long bronchial stump and there was no sign of tumour recurrence. Decision was made for a video-mediastinoscopy and resection and reclosure successfully performed by using an endostapler device. Postoperative bronchoscopy at six months revealed a well-healed stump and two years postoperatively the patient is doing well. The mediastinoscopic approach is a novel option in highly selected patients. It warrants minimal surgical trauma; however, one has to be prepared to convert to an open technique immediately.