经纤维支气管镜置入气道支架治疗气道狭窄35例的临床分析

目的了解气道狭窄患者经纤维支气管镜置入气道支架的近期及中远期疗效。方法对35例安置气管支气管支架的气道狭窄患者随访1～12个月,评估疗效、合并症。结果 35例气道狭窄患者均能顺利置入气管支气管支架,术中无患者死亡,置入后呼吸困难、喘憋症状能即刻明显改善,肺功能各指标有明显改善(P<0.05),短期(<30 d)有效率为91.4%,12个月存活率为65.7%。并发症包括肉芽组织增生、肿瘤组织增生、支架断裂、支架移位以及气管、支气管瘘等。结论对于气道狭窄患者使用气管支气管支架置入疗效显著,能够迅速缓解症状,安全性较好,并发症主要发生于30 d之后。     

被膜食管支架治疗食管贲门良性狭窄32例

目的:评价被膜食管支架治疗食管贲门良性狭窄的疗效和安全性.方法:选择食管贲门良性狭窄患者32例,根据不同患者选择合适的被膜食管支架置入狭窄段.观察操作成功率、吞咽困难改善情况、术中术后并发症的发生及其处理等.结果:32例均一次性成功置入支架,支架置入后吞咽困难症状均得到持续改善.所有患者未出现食管穿孔、出血等严重并发症,但均出现不同程度的胸骨后闷胀隐痛不适,其中4例患者胸痛较明显,肌注止痛荆后缓解:3例出现支架脱落:1例出现支架近端肉芽组织增生.支架置入后可有效封闭食管气管瘘、食管纵隔瘘等.术后6 mo可经内镜成功取出支架.结论:内镜下置入被膜食管支架是治疗食管贲门良性狭窄的一种安全、有效的方法.     

支架相关性呼吸道感染的研究进展

气道支架置入是治疗中央气道狭窄的有效手段, 可快速缓解患者气促症状, 改善患者生活质量, 但是其远期并发症常见, 如支架相关性呼吸道感染、支架移位、肉芽生长等, 目前临床医师对支架相关性呼吸道感染关注不足, 本文就支架相关性呼吸道感染的诊断、类型及防治等方面进行综述, 以期提高临床医师对本病的重视。     

开孔技术在气道Y形硅酮支架困难置入中的应用

随着介入肺脏病学的飞速发展, 气道支架已广泛应用于良恶性中央气道疾病。Y形硅酮支架具有可现场加工、组织相容性好、并发症少等优点, 目前主要用于治疗气道狭窄、气道瘘患者, 但对技术要求高, 常存在置入困难, 甚至置入失败的情况。本文介绍Y形硅酮支架困难置入中开孔技术的应用, 可提高硅酮支架置入的成功率。     

气道内金属支架置入术联合局部顺铂治疗肺癌气道狭窄的临床分析

正肺癌可引起气道狭窄,并发呼吸困难或窒息,气道内金属支架置入可快速解除呼吸道梗阻,改善患者症状。气道金属支架置入后,局部肿瘤或肉芽组织易沿支架两端生长可再发气道狭窄。我科于2008年10月至2014年12月采用电子支气管镜引导下气道内金属支架置入术联合局部顺铂治疗肺癌气道狭窄患者,取得了满意的效果,报道如下。资料与方法一、一般资料选择2008年10月至2014年12月在我院呼吸内科住院治疗,并经病理学、电子支气管镜、肺部CT检查诊断为肺癌     

支气管镜引导联合透视下气道支架置入术治疗恶性气道狭窄的临床分析

目的研究支气管镜引导联合透视下气道支架置入术治疗恶性气道狭窄的疗效。方法对2003年01月至2013年05月因恶性气道狭窄置入气道支架的患者随访12个月,评估疗效及并发症。结果80例恶性肿瘤导致的气道狭窄患者均能顺利置入气道支架,术中无患者死亡,置入后呼吸困难评级、FVC、FEV1、PEF及Pa O2等指标均明显改善(P0.05),出现远期并发症的几率为11.25%。结论支气管镜引导联合透视下气道支架置入术对恶性气道狭窄能迅速的缓解呼吸困难症状,短期疗效显著,安全性好。     

硅酮支架与覆膜金属支架并发症的对比观察

目的对照观察硅酮支架与Z型不锈钢覆膜金属支架置入后的并发症,为临床支架的选择提供参考。方法 2014年4月至2015年2月因气道狭窄或气道瘘65例患者置入硅酮支架,77例患者置入覆膜金属支架,术后定期支气管镜检查,观察2个月内两组病例的主要并发症。结果硅酮支架组置入分叉型支架45例、沙漏状支架7例、直筒型支架13例;覆膜支架组置入分叉型支架70例、直筒型支架7例。两组并发症比较:痰液潴留硅酮支架50例(76.9%)、覆膜支架61例(79.2%),相差不显著(P0.05);肉芽增生硅酮支架39例(60.0%)、覆膜支架69例(89.6%),相差显著(P0.01);支架移位:分叉型及沙漏状支架均无移位,直筒型支架移位硅酮支架2例(15.3%)、覆膜支架6例(85.7%),相差显著(P0.01);顽固性咳嗽硅酮支架4例(6.1%)、覆膜支架7例(9.0%),相差不显著(P0.05)。因肉芽增生明显经处理效果差,9例覆膜支架取出支架,硅酮支架未因肉芽增生取出支架。结论硅酮支架与覆膜支架比较,硅酮致肉芽增生较轻,其直筒型移位较少,建议对需长期放置支架的患者,优先考虑硅酮支架。     

暂时性金属裸支架治疗晚期肺癌中心气道狭窄的探讨

目的观察经可弯曲支气管镜置入呼吸道暂时性镍钛合金裸支架治疗肺癌中心气道狭窄的临床疗效和安全性。方法 38例伴有气管、主支气管外压性狭窄为主的晚期肺癌患者,确诊后先予置入暂时性国产镍钛合金裸支架。置入支架前生活质量Karnofsky评分为42±13(x珋±s),气促指数为2.9±0.7。支架通过支气管镜直视下定位释放置入,通过上拉线取出法或下拉线取出法取出支架。结果 38例每例均置入1枚支架,均一次成功置入。支架置入后狭窄管腔均迅速扩大,置入后第2天气促指数、Karnofsky评分与置入前比较均有显著性差异(P<0.01)。支架置入后均行放疗或/和化疗,支架于置入后1～3个月予取出。未见与支架置入及取出相关的严重并发症。结论暂时性金属裸支架治疗晚期肺癌中心气道狭窄疗效确切,为后续的放化疗创造了条件,同时避免了支架长期放置的并发症,且支架的置入及取出操作简单安全,值得临床推广应用。     

新型超覆膜金属支架治疗难治性食管胃吻合口狭窄的研究

目的评价新型超覆膜金属支架治疗难治性食管胃吻合口狭窄的疗效和安全性。方法选择经内镜下反复扩张效果较差的22例难治性食管胃吻合口良性狭窄的患者,内镜下置入直径为16 mm或18 mm新型超覆膜金属支架,对比支架置入前后患者吞咽困难改善情况、体力状况评分,同时观察在支架置入3个月期间,胸痛、支架移位、肉芽组织增生、溃疡及出血等支架相关并发症的发生情况。结果 22例患者均成功置入支架,在支架置入一周后患者吞咽困难情况明显改善(P0.05),吞咽困难缓解率为100%,患者胸痛评分较前明显提高(P0.05)。在支架留置期间,移位发生率为13.6%(3/22),肉芽组织增生发生率为22.7%(5/22),溃疡发生率为18.2%(4/22),出血倾向发生率为4.55%(1/22),所有患者在支架留置3个月后均顺利取出,无严重并发症发生。支架取出后再狭窄发生率为13.6%(3/22)。结论新型超覆膜食管支架治疗难治性食管胃吻合口狭窄是安全有效的,支架置入期间应密切随访,预防并发症。     

数字减影血管造影术联合气管镜支架置入治疗恶性气道狭窄临床应用

正气道金属支架置入是治疗恶性肿瘤引起的中央气道狭窄的有效方法,支架置入后呼吸困难可立即显著改善,支架再次置入对治疗支架置入后再狭窄所致呼吸困难仍然有效[1]。患者因气道狭窄、病情危重,在支架置入时操作困难。我科采用数字减影血管造影术(digital subtraction angiography,DSA)透视下联合支气管镜引导下气管镍钛合金支架置入治疗10例恶性重度气道狭窄患者取得良好疗     

Ultraflex stents for the management of airway complications in lung transplant recipients

OBJECTIVE: We present our experience with the use of the Ultraflex (nitinol) stents in the management of airway complications in lung transplant (LT) recipients. METHODOLOGY: Nine LT recipients underwent insertion of uncovered Ultraflex stents. Mean change in FEV1, duration to formation of granulation tissue and follow-up post-stent insertion were compared with results obtained in LT recipients who had undergone Gianturco stent (n = 10) and Wallstent insertion (n = 16). RESULTS: Mean improvement in FEV1 after insertion of Gianturco, Wallstent and Ultraflex stents was 670 +/- 591 mL, 613 +/- 221 mL and 522 +/- 391 mL, respectively. No patient with an Ultraflex stent developed mucus plugging or stenosis at stent extremity at a follow up of 263 +/- 278 days. The mean and median duration to stenosis at stent extremity for patients with Gianturco stents was 102 +/- 85 days and 73 days, respectively, compared with 132 +/- 87 days and 142 days, respectively, for patients with Wallstents. Stricture formation in the middle of the Ultraflex stent occurred bilaterally, at the level of anastomosis in one patient in whom stent placement was undertaken in the presence of inflammation. Stent migration in one patient was related to undersizing of the stent diameter relative to the airway diameter. A larger diameter relative stent was subsequently inserted successfully. CONCLUSION: Ultraflex stents appear to have fewer long-term complications when used in the management of airway complications following LT.     

Swallowing of a dynamic tracheal stent: an unusual complication

Cicatricial tracheal stenoses are mainly related to iatrogenic injury as postintubation, posttracheotomy or postoperative. Advances in airway prosthetics have provided a variety of silicone stents and expandable metal stents as a therapeutic option for tracheal stenoses. Nowadays, dynamic tracheal stents are performed prevalently for the treatment of tracheal stenosis. Four major problems are currently associated with airway stents: Mucostasis, formation of granulation tissue, infection and migration. In this report, we present a case of swallowing a tracheal dynamic stent as an unusual complication of tracheal stents.     

Interventional bronchoscopy in the management of airway stenosis due to tracheobronchial tuberculosis

STUDY OBJECTIVES: To assess the efficacy and complications of interventional bronchoscopic techniques in treating airway stenosis due to tracheobronchial tuberculosis. DESIGN: Case series. SETTING: Respiratory care centers at two tertiary care referral teaching hospitals in Japan, Hiroshima City Hospital and Okayama Red Cross Hospital. PATIENTS AND INTERVENTIONS: A total of 30 patients were admitted to the hospital with a diagnosis of tracheobronchial tuberculosis between January 1991 and January 2002. Of those 11 patients received interventional bronchoscopy, including stent placement, laser photoresection, argon plasma coagulation (APC), balloon dilatation, cryotherapy, and endobronchial ultrasonography (EBUS). One patient with complete bronchial obstruction underwent a left pneumonectomy. RESULTS: Six patients underwent stent placement after balloon dilatation, while the remaining five patients underwent only balloon dilatation. In six patients, Dumon stents were successfully placed to reestablish the patency of the central airways. Two patients first had Ultraflex stents implanted but had problems with granulation tissue formation and stent deterioration caused by metal fatigue due to chronic coughing. Dumon stents then were placed within the Ultraflex stents after the patient had received treatment with APC and mechanical reaming using the bevel of a rigid bronchoscope. In four patients, EBUS images demonstrated the destruction of bronchial cartilage or the thickening of the bronchial wall. The main complications of Dumon stents are migration and granulation tissue formation, necessitating stent removal, or replacement, and the application of cryotherapy to the granuloma at the edge of the stent. CONCLUSION: Interventional bronchoscopy should be considered feasible for management of tuberculous tracheobronchial stenosis. Dumon stents seem to be appropriate, since removal or replacement is always possible. Ultraflex stents should not be used in these circumstances because removal is difficult and their long-term safety is uncertain. EBUS could provide useful information in evaluating the condition of the airway wall in cases of tracheobronchial tuberculosis with potential for bronchoscopic intervention.     

Self-expandable metallic stents in nonmalignant large airway disease

Airway self-expandable metallic stents (SEMS) were initially studied in malignant airway obstruction; however, their use in benign airway diseases has become progressively more frequent. This may be explained by their ease of insertion compared with silicone stents, which require rigid bronchoscopy for insertion. While initial experience with SEMS in benign disease suggested efficacy and promising short-term safety profile, long-term follow-up revealed significant complication rates. In addition to a high complication rate, the management of these complications is made more difficult by the semipermanent nature of these devices. Reported complications include infection, granulation tissue formation, stent migration, stent fracture, airway perforation and fistula formation, as well as extension of the initial injury, potentially eliminating other therapeutic options such as surgical resection. Therefore, SEMS should only be used in nonmalignant large airway disease as a last resort for patients in whom other endoscopic methods, including silicone stents and dilations, as well as surgical options have failed or are technically not feasible.     

Remove airway ultraflex stents by flexible bronchoscope

IntroductionDespite removal of airway metallic stents by rigid bronchoscope was presented, there are few reports describing such removal by flexible bronchoscope.Methods36 patients who had airway Ultraflex stents removed by flexible bronchoscope from 2002 to 2009 were reviewed. Factors contributing to removal method and complications during and after removal were analyzed by multinomial logistic regression.ResultsAmong 36 patients with stent extraction; 17 stents (47.2%) were removed by a single procedure and 19 (52.8%) by multiple procedures. There was no mortality or severe morbidity during or after stent removal. There were 21 complications after stent removal, including retained stent pieces (n = 9), mucosal tear with bleeding (n = 5), and re-obstruction requiring silicone stent placement (n = 7). Stent indwelling time > 10 months (adjusted odds ratio: 9.5; 95% confidence interval: 7.9–11.1, P=0.01), obstructive granulation tissue formation before stent removal (adjusted odds ratio: 5.2; 95% confidence interval: 2.2–8.6, P=0.01), and stent fracture before removal (adjusted odds ratio: 3.5; 95% confidence interval: 1.8–15.4, P=0.04) were independent predictors of the need for multiple procedures for stent removal. Stent indwelling time > 10 months (adjusted odds ratio: 4.2; 95% confidence interval: 2.1–8.9, P=0.01), obstructive granulation tissue formation before stent removal (adjusted odds ratio: 16.5; 95% confidence interval, 1.8–49.6, P=0.01), and multiple procedures required for removal (adjusted odds ratio: 6.9; 95% confidence interval, 1.1–43.5, P=0.04) were independent predictors of removal complications.ConclusionsA flexible bronchoscope can be used to remove stents in patients with central airway obstruction and stent-related complications. This procedure should be performed in centers with experienced multidisciplinary teams.     

Endoscopic removal of metallic airway stents

BACKGROUND: Complications of metallic airway stents include granulation tissue formation, fracture of struts, migration, and mucous plugging. When these complications result in airway injury or obstruction, it may become necessary to remove the stent. There have been few reports detailing techniques and complications associated with endoscopic removal of metallic airway stents. We report our experience with endoscopic removal of 30 such stents over a 3-year period. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of 25 patients who underwent endoscopic stent removal from March 2001 to April 2004. The patients ranged in age from 17 to 80 years (mean, 56.3 years). There were 10 male and 15 female patients. The stents had been placed for nonmalignant disease in 20 patients (80%) and malignant disease in 5 patients (20%). All procedures were done under general anesthesia with a rigid bronchoscope. Special attention was focused on the technique of stent removal and postoperative complications. RESULTS: Thirty metallic airway stents were successfully removed from 25 consecutive patients over a 3-year period. The basic method of removal involved the steady application of traction to the stent with alligator forceps. In all cases, an instrument such as the barrel of the rigid bronchoscope or a Jackson dilator was employed to help separate the stent from the airway wall before removal was attempted. In some instances, the airway wall was pretreated with thermal energy prior to stent removal. Complications were as follows: retained stent pieces (n = 7), mucosal tear with bleeding (n = 4), re-obstruction requiring temporary silicone stent placement (n = 14), need for postoperative mechanical ventilation (n = 6), and tension pneumothorax (n = 1). CONCLUSIONS: Although metallic stents may be safely removed endoscopically, complications are common and must be anticipated. Other investigators have described airway obstruction and death as a result of attempted stent removal. Placement and removal of metallic airway stents should only be performed at centers that are prepared to deal with the potentially life-threatening complications.     

Stenting therapy for stenosing airway diseases

Tracheobronchial stents have proved very valuable in the management of airway stenosis due to a variety of causes, both benign and malignant. These include benign strictures which are post-traumatic (e.g. after intubation), post anastomotic (e.g. after lung transplantation), or post inflammatory (e.g. after inflammatory conditions such as tuberculosis or Wegener's granulomatosis); as well as narrowing due to malignant involvement of large airways. In addition, airway stents have been used to treat tracheobronchomalacia and oesophageal-airway fistulae. The insertion of the stent may need to be combined with other procedures such as airway dilatation, laser photocoagulation, brachytherapy or a mixture of these treatment modalities. Stents have been fashioned out of silicone, wire mesh or a combination of these materials, but the perfect stent has yet to be devised. Common problems include displacement and obstruction with secretions or granulation tissue. Less commonly the stent may perforate the airway wall, sometimes into the accompanying blood vessel. Nonetheless, airway stents are valuable tools in the management of airway narrowing.     

Evaluation of a new self-expandable silicone stent in an experimental tracheal stenosis

STUDY OBJECTIVES: To assess the usefulness of an animal model for testing new tracheobronchial stents. SETTING: Animal laboratory of a university hospital. ANIMALS AND INTERVENTIONS: In a series with 12 mini-pigs, we induced a stable fibromalacic tracheal stenosis that was 50% to 70% of the normal tracheal diameter. After dilation we inserted a 16 x 40-mm self-expandable silicone stent into the stenotic part of the trachea in 10 of the mini-pigs. Five of the stents had a smooth outer surface, and five had additional silicone retaining spikes. Because of a long stenosis in two of the mini-pigs, two overlapping stents (one smooth and one with spikes) were inserted. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Stent deployment was successful and resulted in the disappearance of the slight to moderate stridor in all of the mini-pigs. Over a mean (+/- SD) observation period of 24 days (range, 10 to 41 days), all of the mini-pigs redeveloped stridor. Three of them died unexpectedly of suffocation: in all three a smooth stent had migrated, leading to total obstruction of the stenosis. In total, five of the six smooth stents migrated, and only one of the six spiked stents migrated. There was considerable granulation tissue formation at the ends of all of the stents. In the two control mini-pigs, a 12 x 35-mm Dumon stent was inserted. Both Dumon stents migrated, and one of them had considerable granuloma formation at its ends. At the end of the observation period, all stents were removed endoscopically and were found not to have deteriorated over time. CONCLUSIONS: Our model proved to be suitable for the evaluation of the technical aspects of the Polyflex stent. Spikes on the outer stent surface are more effective in preventing migration than smooth-surface stents. Long-term compatibility, however, seems to be difficult to test with our model because both the Polyflex and the Dumon stents had excessive granulation tissue formation at both ends, a factor which--in the case of the Dumon stent--does not occur to such a degree in benign human airway stenoses. Our results indicate a need for prospective long-term studies in benign human airway stenoses.     

Airway complications following lung transplantation

There are 6 major types of airway complications following lung transplantation: necrosis and dehiscence, infection, granulation tissue formation, malacia, fistulae, and stenosis. This article reviews the risk factors for developing airway complications after lung transplantation, the clinical features of the complications, and treatment options for these problems.     

High dose rate brachytherapy for nonmalignant airway obstruction: new treatment option

STUDY OBJECTIVES: High dose rate (HDR) endobronchial brachytherapy is widely used as a palliative treatment for symptomatic airway obstruction by primary or secondary malignant tumors. We report on a successful use of HDR brachytherapy in patients with nonmalignant airway obstruction. DESIGN: Case series PATIENTS: Six patients received HDR brachytherapy for airway obstruction caused by granulation tissue around a metal stent placed for restoration of the airway patency for nonmalignant causes. In four patients, brachytherapy was performed following recurrent occlusion of the airway by granulation tissue formation; in two patients, it was done as a prophylactic procedure. INTERVENTION: HDR brachytherapy catheters were passed through the metal stents under direct fluoroscopic guidance. Simulation and computerized treatment planning were done, and a single dose of 10 Gy was administered using a brachytherapy remote afterloader with a (192)Ir source. The dose was prescribed to a distance of 1 cm from the center of the source, with a margin of 1 cm from the proximal and distal ends of the stent. RESULTS: At a median follow-up of 15 months, moderate granulation tissue formation was observed in only one patient; in four others, it was categorized as minimal, 5 to 30 months from the procedure. Restoration of the lumen was complete in four patients, near complete in one patient, and partial in one patient. In one patient, previously treated by external radiotherapy, local tissue necrosis was evident. CONCLUSION: HDR brachytherapy can be used safely for nonmalignant airway obstruction. Further studies including more patients and longer follow-up are needed.