Cryotherapy, electrocautery, and brachytherapy

Since it was first used 70 years ago, brachytherapy has become an effective tool in the treatment with tracheal bronchial malignancy including primary and recurrent bronchogenic carcinoma and metastatic carcinoma. The technique has evolved from interstitial implantation of radioactive sources directly to the tumor using rigid bronchoscopy to intraluminal placement of a radioactive source into a polyethylene afterloading catheter placed using FB. Intraluminal brachytherapy is effective in palliating complications caused by malignant endobronchial tumors such as dyspnea, hemoptysis, intractable cough, atelectasis, and postobstructive pneumonia. Brachytherapy may be combined with external beam radiation, Nd:YAG laser therapy, and chemotherapy to enhance the palliative treatments of patients. The risk of severe complications from brachytherapy may be caused more by location of tumor being treated rather than those fractionations scheme. When tumor involves the mainstem bronchi and upper lobes, it seems prudent to obtain CT to exclude tumor invasion of the pulmonary arteries or considerable destruction of the bronchial wall and mediastinal invasion of the tumor. Patients with findings such as these should not be treated with endobronchial brachytherapy or treated with LDR brachytherapy. Brachytherapy is proved to be effective and a safe palliative treatment for endobronchial malignancies, but further investigations are necessary to determine the optimal dose scheme and its efficiency in bronchogenic carcinoma and combined with external beam radiation therapy or surgery or other endobronchial procedures such as Nd:YAG laser or cryotherapy.     

Fiberoptic bronchoscopic balloon dilatation in malignant tracheobronchial disease: indications and results.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: Bronchoscopic balloon dilatation (BBD) has become a valuable tool in the treatment of benign tracheobronchial stenoses. The objective of this study was to assess indications for and results of fiberoptic BBD in treating malignant lesions. DESIGN: One hundred twenty-six balloon dilatation procedures were performed in 78 patients with predominantly bronchial carcinoma. BBD was only performed when alternative modes of local treatment (eg, laser therapy or stent implantation) were not indicated or were inappropriate. Indications were symptomatic stenoses of the tracheobronchial tree: dyspnea or stridor (52%), retention pneumonia (15%), atelectasis (10%), retention of secretions (21%), or lung abscess (2%). RESULTS: Fifty-five percent of all procedures consisted of dilatations of tracheal or bronchial lesions (group 1). In 22% of procedures, a stent was dilated (group 2). In 13%, BBD was used to facilitate stent placement (group 3), and in 10% to enable the correct positioning of irradiation probes for brachytherapy (group 4). In group 1 and group 2, 2 of 2 lung abscesses resolved, 5 of 8 atelectases resolved, and 11 of 12 retention pneumonias resolved. Dyspnea improved in only 12 of 32 patients. No abscess recurred. Two pneumonias and two atelectases reappeared due to restenosis. Stent implantation and brachytherapy procedures were facilitated in 90% of cases. In 52% of cases, BBD was supported by high-frequency jet ventilation. Complications consisted of one fatal hemoptysis caused by a lacerated pulmonary artery, and minor bleeding not necessitating specific therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Fiberoptic BBD is useful in the management of airway stents prior to and postimplantation, as well as in the placement of brachytherapy catheters. BBD is also successful in the resolution of poststenotic lung abscesses, retention pneumonias, and atelectases.     

Endobronchial capillary hemangioma: a very rare cause of massive hemoptysis

Tracheal capillary hemangioma is a very rare benign tumor of trachea which may present as massive hemoptysis. Minor to massive hemoptysis can be observed in these patients. Due to its small size and tracheal localization, diagnosis cannot be easily performed by using radiological investigations. Fifty-years-old male patient who was diagnosed as tracheal capillary hemangioma with bronchoscopic biopsy was presented in this case report. According to our knowledge, this is the eighth case report in the world literature. Tracheal capillary hemangioma must be kept in mind in patients with massive hemoptysis with normal radiologic features and bronchoscopic procedures (excision, argon, laser etc.) should be the first choice of therapy when diagnosed.     

Long-term clinical benefits of the low dose rate endobronchial irradiation of malignant airway obstructions

Brachytherapy allows the delivery of higher radiation doses, possibly leading to improved locoregional tumor control and subsequent prolonged survival. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the long-term clinical survival in patients with malignant airway compromise treated with endobronchial brachytherapy and to estimate possible influence of other factors on survival and to review complications of the therapy. In a retrospective study 55 patients with malignant inoperable tracheobronchial lesions underwent 71 brachytherapy treatments with 137Cesium. Either MicroSelectron (N=56) or Selectron (N=15) were used. All except 4 patients received external radiation, 20 patients received chemotherapy, 37 patients received laser excision. Major symptomatic improvement was noted in 75% of patients. Substantial or complete relief of hemoptysis was achieved in 85%, of dyspnea in 65% and of cough in 68%. Response evaluation showed no complete response, partial response was achieved in 70.9% and the endoscopic finding was not changed, or recurrence of the tumor was found in 29.1%. A relatively small number of complications of the endobronchial brachytherapy occured. Significant bleeding was observed in 1 procedure and an inability to tolerate in 3 cases. In 2 cases, it was not possible to place an applicator due to extreme hypoxia. Bronchomediastinal fistula developed in 1 patient and tracheal stenosis in 1 patient. The overall incidence of complications was 15%. The median survival from establishing the diagnosis was 510 days. The median survival after the first brachytherapy treatment was 200 days. We compared the survival in the subgroups of patients in relation to TNM status, chemotherapy, laser debulking brachytherapy device used. The stage IIIA patients survived longer from diagnosis than IIIB patients but the difference was on the border of significance (p = 0.090). In the evaluation of chemotherapy, more patients survived 12 months from the diagnosis (p = 0.045) when treated by chemotherapy comparing to the patients treated without chemotherapy. However, this difference disappeared during the further development of the disease. In the Nd-YAG laser treatment, the patients treated by brachytherapy with the previous laser debulking survived significantly longer from the time of the first brachytherapy session (p = 0.005). No statistical difference was found in the survival of patients treated by either the Selectron or MicroSelectron device. The LDR endobronchial brachytherapy is a well tolerated, safe and effective technique for palliation of malignant airway occlusions. In our group of patients, the long-term survival was longer in IIIA stage comparing to the IIIB, in the group treated by the previous chemotherapy compared to the patients without chemotherapy and in the group with the Nd-YAG laser therapy, comparing to the group treated by the brachytherapy only. No difference of the brachytherapy device used was found.     

High dose rate intraluminal irradiation in recurrent endobronchial carcinoma

Palliative therapy for previously irradiated patients with symptomatic recurrent endobronchial malignancy is a difficult problem. We have had the opportunity to treat 20 such patients with high dose rate (50-100 rad/min) endobronchial brachytherapy. Eligible patients had received previous high dose thoracic irradiation (TDF greater than or equal to 90), a performance status of greater than or equal to 50, and symptoms caused by a bronchoscopically defined and implantable lesion. The radiation is produced by a small cobalt-60 source (0.7 Ci) remotely afterloaded by cable control. The source is fed into a 4 mm diameter catheter which is placed with bronchoscopic guidance; it may oscillate if necessary to cover the lesion. A dose of 1,000 rad at 1 cm from the source is delivered. We have performed 22 procedures in 20 patients, four following YAG laser debulking. Most had cough, some with hemoptysis. Eight had dyspnea secondary to obstruction and three had obstructive pneumonitis. In 12, symptoms recurred with a mean time to recurrence of 4.3 months (range 1-9 months). Eighteen patients were followed-up and reexamined via bronchoscope 1-2.5 months following the procedure; two were lost to follow-up. All had at least 50 percent clearance of tumor, and six had complete clearance; most regressions were documented on film or videotape. In six, the palliation was durable. The procedure has been well tolerated with no toxicity. We conclude that palliative endobronchial high dose rate brachytherapy is a useful palliative modality in patients with recurrent endobronchial symptomatic carcinoma.     

Laser augmented by brachytherapy versus laser alone in the palliation of adenocarcinoma of the oesophagus and cardia: a randomised study.

BACKGROUND: Many patients with advanced malignant dysphagia are not suitable for definitive treatment. The best option for palliation of dysphagia varies between patients. This paper looks at a simple technique for enhancing laser recanalisation. AIM: To assess the value of adjunctive brachytherapy in prolonging palliation of malignant dysphagia by endoscopic laser therapy. PATIENTS: Twenty two patients with advanced malignant dysphagia due to adenocarcinoma of the oesophagus or gastric cardia, unsuitable for surgery or radical chemoradiotherapy. METHODS: Patients able to eat a soft diet after laser recanalisation were randomised to no further therapy or a single treatment with brachytherapy (10 Gy). Results were judged on the quality and duration of dysphagia palliation, need for subsequent intervention, complications, and survival. RESULTS: The median dysphagia score for all patients two weeks after initial treatment was 1 (some solids). The median dysphagia palliated interval from the end of initial treatment to recurrent dysphagia or death increased from five weeks (control group) to 19 weeks (brachytherapy group). Three patients had some odynophagia for up to six weeks after brachytherapy. There was no other treatment related morbidity or mortality. Further intervention was required in 10 of 11 control patients (median five further procedures) compared with 7/11 brachytherapy patients (median two further procedures). There was no difference in survival (median 20 weeks (control), 26 weeks (brachytherapy)). CONCLUSIONS: Laser therapy followed by brachytherapy is a safe, straightforward, and effective option for palliating advanced malignant dysphagia, which is complementary to stent insertion.     

Endobronchial brachytherapy in the treatment of malignant lung tumours.

A prospective study was made to assess the short-term clinical and endoscopic response to high-dose-rate endobronchial brachytherapy (HDREB) in patients with malignant endobronchial tumours. From July 1995 to May 2000, 288 HDREB sessions were carried out on 81 patients. The mean patient age was 61.57 yrs (range 34-82); males were predominant (87.65%). Tumours were primary in 76 patients (93.82%) and metastatic in five patients (6.18%). The inclusion criteria were malignant endobronchial tumour and either palliative treatment for incurable disease or intent-to-cure treatment for residual malignancy on the bronchial resection surface after surgery or an inoperable tumour. The exclusion criteria were as follows: impediments to catheter placement, expected survival <2 months, Karnofsky index <60, or absence of informed consent. The clinical response of a symptom was categorised as complete (disappearance of the symptom), partial (less than complete) or absent. The endoscopic response was considered to be complete if lesions disappeared and biopsy findings remained negative 1 month after the last radiation session; partial if lesions improved to some extent, but the biopsy findings were positive; and absent if there was no change in relation to baseline. The technique consisted of delivering high-dose irradiation from an Ir192 source to a target volume using one or two endobronchial catheters inserted under optical or video bronchoscopic guidance. Four sessions were scheduled at weekly intervals and 500 cGy was applied per session over a length of 1-9 cm, measured 0.5-1 cm from the centre of the source. In total, 85% of the symptoms analysed (haemoptysis, cough, dyspnoea, expectoration, and stridor) disappeared with HDREB, which was categorised as a complete response. The endoscopic response was complete in 56.79% of patients, partial or less than complete in 40.74% and absent in 2.46%. One major complication occurred (bronchial fistula 1.2%), but no lethal haemoptysis. Minor complications (pneumonitis, bronchospasm and bronchial stenosis) each occurred in one patient (1.2%). High-dose-rate endobronchial brachytherapy is a good palliative treatment for endoluminal lung neoplasms, effectively alleviating symptoms and endoscopic evidence in many cases with an acceptable rate of complications. High-dose-rate endobronchial brachytherapy can be carried out as an intent-to-cure procedure in highly selected cases.     

Serious complications with talc slurry pleurodesis

OBJECTIVE: Talc is a highly efficacious and commonly employed agent for chemical pleurodesis, which has generally been felt to be well tolerated. However, increasing reports of adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) have heightened safety concerns. A recent case of ARDS prompted us to review our experience with talc pleurodesis. METHODOLOGY: We conducted a retrospective review of all patients who received talc slurry pleurodesis at Green Lane Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand, between 1 January 1998 and 31 December 1999 and documented all complications occurring within 48 h of the procedure. RESULTS: Thirty-three talc pleurodesis were performed on 29 patients, most commonly for a malignant pleural effusion. Complications occurred in 15 patients (52% of procedures). Minor complications included tachycardia (n = 11; 33%), pain (n = 9; 27%), fever (n = 8; 24%) and dyspnoea (n = 4; 12%). Major complications occurred in seven patients with hypoxaemia and hypotension. Two of these patients died; one death directly attributable to ARDS, the other hastened by a talc pleurodesis-related tachycardia. CONCLUSIONS: These results challenge the assumption that talc pleurodesis is a safe procedure. There were a significant number of serious complications, including a death, from ARDS. Physicians and patients should be aware that complications occur frequently after talc pleurodesis which may be life-threatening or fatal.     

Transcatheter coil closure of pulmonary arteriovenous malformations in children

Pulmonary arteriovenous fistula (PAVF) is a rare vascular malformation of the lung that may lead to cyanosis, epistaxis, hemoptysis, and neurological deficits or cerebral abscess. The purpose of this study is to assess the effectiveness of percutaneous transcatheter embolization of PAVF in pediatric patients. Transcatheter embolization of PAVF using spring coils was performed in three patients (two males and one female) who presented between 1989 and 1999. The age at presentation ranged from 8 months to 3 years (mean 19.6 months). All patients had cyanosis and clubbing. Neurological, dermatological, or other cardiac manifestations were absent. The arterial oxygen saturations at presentation ranged from 60 to 72% (mean 64%). During eight procedures, multiple coils (total of 41 coils, average 14 coils per patient) were delivered to occlude the fistulas successfully. There was complete occlusion of the fistulas in all patients after the multiple interventions. The aortic saturations increased from a mean of 66% to a mean of 95%. Chest radiographs demonstrated dramatic regression of the pulmonary shadows in all three patients. There were no complications encountered during the procedures or during follow-up. Transcatheter coil embolization of PAVF is a safe and effective method of treatment in the pediatric age group. Patients may require multiple procedures to completely occlude the fistulas. Long-term follow-up is essential to ensure absence of recurrence due to recanalization.     

Rectal Ulceration as a Result of Prostatic Brachytherapy: A New Clinical Problem

INTRODUCTION: Prostate cancer is the most common cancer of males in the United States. One treatment modality for localized prostate cancer is brachytherapy, the implantation of radioactive seeds directly into the prostate. Although this is an effective treatment option, significant complications can result. More commonly these complications involve the genitourinary tract, but radiation proctitis is a well-recognized, less common complication. A specific complication of brachytherapy, the development of a rectal ulcer is not well recognized. The clinical course of this complication and results of treatment options are unknown. METHODS: Three cases of rectal ulceration as a consequence of prostatic brachyradiotherapy are presented, and the presumed course of disease and treatment options is discussed. RESULTS: Two patients were initially treated with local advancement flaps that both failed. These patients developed rectourethral fistulas. One patient was treated with diverting colostomy and suprapubic urinary diversion. The second underwent proctectomy and coloanal anastomosis. This also failed after multiple attempts to treat perianastomotic fistulas. The third patient was treated endoscopically for bleeding and has had no further interventions. CONCLUSION: In the small percentage of patients who develop rectal ulcerations from prostatic brachyradiotherapy, local medical or surgical treatments will often result in failure. They also may contribute to the eventual development of rectourethral fistulas, the likely natural progression of this disease. These fistulas should be treated with both urinary and fecal diversion. Earlier stages of ulceration may be treated with rectal resection and reconstruction, but selection criteria for these procedures have yet to be determined.     

支气管动脉栓塞术治疗148例大咯血回顾性临床分析

目的 分析支气管动脉造影及支气管动脉栓塞术(BAE)的安全性及有效性.方法 回顾性分析我院2009年3月至2016年4月148例因大咯血行BAE患者的病因、临床特点、栓塞术细节、术后结果及并发症.结果 148例行支气管动脉造影及BAE,其中男118例,女30例,年龄14～91岁.活动性肺结核及肺结核相关后遗症如慢性纤维性病变、空洞是大咯血的主要病因,本资料共83例患者与肺结核相关.另外不明原因咯血30例(20.3％).对其所有相关动脉给予评价.造影中出现血管迂曲、肥厚、点状及片状渗出被认为是靶向血管特征.双侧支气管动脉(64例)是本资料最常见的责任血管动脉,其次是右侧支气管动脉(53例)、左侧支气管动脉(23例)、肋间后动脉(23例).栓塞材料中明胶海绵为所有BAE者均有使用.明胶海绵联合聚乙烯醇颗粒28例,明胶海绵联合弹簧圈68例.在148例行BAE治疗患者中,120例术后立即止血.25例术后再发出血,其中14例接受保守治疗(6例成功,8例死亡),7例再次行BAE,4例行外科手术治疗(3例成功,1例死亡).术后记录到3例严重的并发症,脊髓横贯性截瘫1例,急性青光眼1例,脑梗死1例.共出现63例轻度并发症,胸痛32例和低热31例.结论 BAE对于控制大咯血是有效的治疗方法.重复BAE的有效性及安全性同样值得肯定.但术后严重并发症仍需我们关注.     

Spontaneous closure of congenital coronary artery fistulas

Six cases of full spontaneous closure of congenital coronary artery fistulas, and one case of near closure, as seen by colour Doppler echocardiography, are presented. It is worth reconsidering the classical view that nearly all cases of spontaneous closure are eligible for surgical or percutaneous correction to prevent the development of significant and potentially fatal complications. As the natural course of coronary artery fistulas is still poorly defined, asymptomatic patients, especially those under 7 years old with small shunts, should be periodically followed up by echocardiography rather than be subjected to operative closure, even by catheterisation.     

Peritoneal and intestinal tuberculosis: an ancestral disease that poses new challenges in the technological era. Case report and review of the literature

Tuberculosis is a public health problem. The most common presentation is pulmonary disease. The diagnosis of any extrapulmonary forms are quite difficult. Clinical manifestations of gastrointestinal tuberculosis are non-specific and compatible with pathologies such as inflammatory bowel disease, advanced ovarian cancer, deep mycosis, yersinia infection and amebomas. Abdominal form is located at 6th place of the extrapulmonary forms, after lymphatic, genitourinary, osteoarticular, miliary and meningeal infections. Eventually, 25 to 75% of patients with abdominal tuberculosis will require surgery. These procedures should be limitated with the purpose to preserve small bowel. Resection should be limitated for complicated cases. The surgical indications include: Intestinal occlusion (15-60%), perforation (1-15%), abscesses and fistulas (2-30%) and hemorrhage (2%). CONCLUSIONS: In most of the cases, the diagnosis of peritoneal or intestinal tuberculosis is made during a laparoscopy or laparotomy even during surgery performed by different purposes. Excessive manipulation of the intraabdominal organs may produced unexpected bowel lesions, increasing morbidity and mortality. Medical treatment is highly effective in the resolution of moderate complications such as bowel obstruction. Resectional procedures should be reserved for complications like perforation, bleeding or stenosis non-suitable for stricturoplasty.     

经人工气道冷冻联合氩等离子电凝治疗晚期中央型肺癌的疗效分析

目的探讨经人工气道支气管镜下冷冻联合氩等离子电凝（APC）治疗晚期中央型肺癌的可行性、安全性。方法回顾分析我院2011年2月至2012年12月经人工气道在支气管镜下对41例晚期中央型肺癌,行冷冻,并联合APC治疗的临床资料进行分析,术后一周评价疗效。评价指标包括术前、术后咳嗽、咯血、发热症状,呼吸困难指数、影像学检查、支气管镜复查气道狭窄情况等。结果患者咳嗽减轻13例（31．7％）,咯血缓解14例（34．1％）,发热缓解9例（22．0％）,术前呼吸困难指数3．5±0．42,术后1．8±0．33;影像学提示阻塞性肺炎、肺不张消退12例（29．3％）,好转27例（65．9％）,无变化者2例;气管镜复查完全有效17例（41．5％）,部分有效21例（51．2％）,无效3例（7．3％）。结论经人工气道支气管镜下冷冻联合APC治疗中央气道肿瘤可以缓解咳嗽、咯血、发热、呼吸困难等症状,并发症少,安全性高,值得临床推广。     

Palliation of oesophagogastric neoplasms with Nd:YAG laser treatment.

The palliative effect of endoscopic Nd:YAG laser treatment of malignant strictures of the oesophagus and cardia was prospectively evaluated in 30 patients. Most (n = 28) were primarily treated for dysphagia, and swallowing was improved in 21 and normalized in 14 of these patients. Two patients were successfully treated for bleeding. Six patients developed complications (including two perforations), and four of these were fatal. The median survival was 4 months (range, 17 days to 14 months). It is concluded that in a great number of patients with inoperable cancer of the oesophagus and cardia, laser treatment is better than other palliative procedures.     

Iatrogenic pathology in coronary intensive care units. Results of a prospective survey on 802 patients

Iatrogenic disease in the coronary care unit was detected and analysed using a grid over a 17.5 month period (16.09.82 to 25.02.84). The cases of 802 patients, mean age 65.8 years, predominantly male (56.6%) were examined. Minor or minimal pathology in which the causal relationship was conditional or doubtful according to Karch's criteria was excluded. Only those conditions, moderate, severe or even lethal, specific or not to this type of unit, requiring specialised hospital care and in which the causal relationship could be adequately established were retained. Iatrogenic pathology was common: 11.84% of admissions. This group of 95 patients did not differ significantly from a control group with respect to age [average 4 years older (NS)] or mortality. However, there was a clear cut female predominance (68%, p. less than 0.01) and a different distribution of the organic pathology (p less than 0.001). The iatrogenic disease developed before hospital admission in 40% of patients and during hospitalisation in 60% of patients. It increased the duration of the patient's stay by half (2.77 days). Nearly a quarter of these patients had two or more types of iatrogenic disease. The undesirable effects of drugs were mainly bradycardia (44 cases), tachycardia (11 cases), haemodynamic changes, vascular, renal, gastrointestinal, metabolic and endocrine complications. Twenty-one complications of medical procedures and 13 of surgical procedures were also noted. This study, the first to have been performed in a Coronary Care Unit to the author's knowledge, confirms the high incidence of iatrogenic pathology. This fact should be born in mind before taking any therapeutic decision or before performing invasive diagnostic investigations.     

Endobronchial radiation therapy for obstructing malignancies: Ten years' experience with iridium-192 high-dose radiation brachytherapy afterloading technique in 365 patients

From 1983 to 1993, 365 patients with obstructing endobronchial malignancies were treated by endobronchial high-dose radiation (HDR) iridium-192 afterloading. In 346 patients, the objective was palliation, and in 19, the objective was curative. A dose of 5 Gy at 10 mm from the source axis was administered on three (palliation) and four (cure) occasions, at intervals of 14 days. The majority of patients were treated after exhaustion of external beam radiation therapy (EBRT), often in conjunction with other interventional bronchologic modalities such as endobronchial laser resection. Of the patients, 65% had a squamous cell carcinoma. Endobronchial HDR brachytherapy results in few acute complications and can be performed with no major discomfort on an outpatient basis. In approximately 66% of patients, a palliative effect is achieved, even after the exhaustion of conventional treatment. Life may be prolonged for a few months, but the enhancement of survival is difficult to assess for several reasons. Mean survival is 9 months for limited disease and 5 months for extensive disease. Endobronchial HDR brachytherapy influences the pattern of failure: a 21% rate of fatal hemorrhages is probably the result of the selection of patients for this treatment rather than a treatment-related complication. There is sufficient evidence to suggest the rational use of HDR brachytherapy in combination with EBRT to effect a cure, or even on its own when tumor growth is strictly limited. However, the standardization of radiotherapy and endoscopic indications is an urgent priority. Prospective, controlled, and cooperative studies are mandatory. Endobronchial iridium-192 HDR brachytherapy complements endobronchial laser resection and is currently an established technique in the treatment of advanced malignant airway obstructions.Offprint requests to: Priv. Doz. Dr H.-N. Macha     

The use of self-expandable metallic stents for palliative treatment of inoperable esophageal cancer

Most patients with esophageal carcinoma present in the advanced stage die from tumor invasion and widespread metastases. Because radical regimens are not appropriate for the majority of patients, and their expected survivals are as short as to be measured by months, the main aim of therapy is palliation with minimum morbidity and mortality. Among the palliative modalities are surgery, external radiotherapy or brachytherapy, dilatation, laser, photodynamic therapy, bipolar electrocoagulation tumor probe, and chemical ablation. The placement of self‐expandable metallic stents is another method that improves dysphagia for these patients. In this study, the aim was to evaluate retrospectively the effectiveness of metallic stents deployed because of inoperable malignant esophageal stenosis and esophagotracheal fistulas. The results of 170 patients with 202 stents administered because of inoperable malignant esophageal stenosis and esophagorespiratory fistula between January 2000 and October 2008 at the Ataturk University, Department of Thoracic Surgery, were investigated. Despite epidemiological and clinical data, information regarding relief of dysphagia and quality of life were also examined. One hundred seventy patients with stents were between 28 and 91 years old (mean age 63.7 years ± 11.4 years). Ninety‐seven were male and 73 were female. Stent indications were advanced tumors with distant metastasis (82 cases, 48.2%), unresectable tumors (51 cases, 30%), patients who cannot tolerate surgery or chemoradiotherapy (18 cases, 10.5%), local recurrence after primary therapy (1 case, 0.5%), esophagorespiratory fistulas from tumor or therapy (14 cases, 8.2%), and refusal of surgery (4 cases, 2.3%). Dysphagia scores evaluated by a modified Takita's grading system improved from 3.4 before the procedure to 2.6 afterward. The overall complication rate without chest pain was 31.7% (occurring in 64 cases). Mean survival was 177.7 days ± 59.3 days (2–993 days). Quality‐of‐life scores (The European Organization of Research and Treatment of Cancer QLQ C30) improved from 73 ± 10.3 (57–85) to 112 ± 12.6 (90–125). In therapy of malignant esophageal obstructions, metallic stents provide a significant improvement in dysphagia and require less frequent re‐intervention according to other methods of dysphagia palliation such as dilatation, laser, and photodynamic therapy, nearly completely relieve esophagotracheal fistulas and improve quality of life to an important degree.     

Not Your Typical Pneumonia: A Case of Exogenous Lipoid Pneumonia

The constellation of chronic cough, dyspnea, and hemoptysis can include a broad range of differential diagnoses. Although uncommon, exogenous lipoid pneumonia (ELP) should be considered when patients present with this symptom complex. We report a case of a 72-year-old female who presented with hemoptysis, cough, and dyspnea. The admission computed tomography scan of the chest revealed progressive interstitial infiltrates. Bronchoscopy revealed diffuse erythema without bleeding. Culture and cytology of lavage fluid were negative. Open-lung biopsy revealed numerous lipid-laden macrophages and multinucleated foreign-body giant cells. On further questioning, the patient admitted to the daily use of mineral oil for constipation. The diagnosis of ELP was made. The literature review revealed that many cases typically present with chronic cough with or without dyspnea. Our case illustrates an unusual presenting symptom of hemoptysis and the need to identify patients who can be at risk of developing this rare condition.     

487例结核性毁损肺外科治疗的效果分析

目的 探讨结核性毁损肺外科治疗的临床效果。方法 搜集成都市公共卫生临床医疗中心2007年1月至2017年3月收治的487例结核性毁损肺患者的临床资料,所有患者在规范抗结核药物(个体化方案)治疗2周后或结核病灶稳定、完善相关术前检查、符合手术指征后行手术治疗。对比患者手术前后临床症状变化,以及胸廓塌陷、脊柱侧弯、痰菌检测、肺功能变化、手术方式、并发症及随访等改变情况。应用SPSS 17.0软件进行统计学处理,计量资料采用t检验,以P<0.05为差异有统计学意义。结果 本组487例患者中,右上肺切除93例、右全肺切除69例、左上肺切除112例、左全肺切除193例、分次行双上肺切除20例。453例患者术前有明显咳嗽、胸闷、气促、患侧胸部塌陷,78例纵隔明显偏向患侧;385例反复咯血、113例出现大咯血、32例反复大咯血;82例痰菌检查阳性(含涂阳患者47例,培阳患者35例),57例患者经纤维支气管镜刷片检测抗酸杆菌阳性;术后仅23例患者有轻微咳嗽、胸闷,全肺切除术患者胸廓塌陷有改善,非全肺切除患者纵隔移位有明显恢复;5例患者随访6个月至2年后仍然有少量痰中带血;术后痰菌检测阳性的151例患者均阴转。术后患者肺活量(VC)占预计值的百分数为(85.20±10.10)%、用力肺活量(FVC)[(88.00±9.80)%]、第1秒用力呼气容积(FEV₁)[(84.60±7.36)%]、最大呼气流速峰值(PEF)[(80.65±9.25)%]、最大通气量(MVV)[(83.20±5.73)%]均较术前[分别为(67.50±11.37)%、(71.60±13.21)%、(66.10±10.03)%、(65.90±9.54)%、(61.20±13.60)%]明显改善(t值分别为-7.56、-8.63、-5.37、-6.40、-4.66,P值分别为0.024、0.015、0.037、0.022、0.012)。53例患者出现并发症,发生率为10.88%(53/487),出现在术后3d至6个月;分别为胸腔感染22例(其中发生支气管胸膜瘘5例)、残肺复张不全13例、严重肺部感染7例、切口感染6例、声音嘶哑5例。1例右全肺切除患者因胸腔粘连致密、手术时间超过9h、术中失血量超过2000ml,于术后3h死于呼吸衰竭。433例在术后3~6个月后恢复了正常生活及工作,25例患者在家休养,已经恢复日常生活但未外出工作,总有效率为94.05%(458/487)。结论 结核性毁损肺在规范有效抗结核药物治疗的基础上,采用外科手术治疗的有效率高、并发症少、肺功能改善明显,对提高患者生活质量、达到临床治愈意义重大。