Traqueobroncoplastia por malacia / Tracheobronchoplasty for malacia

RESUMEN La traqueobroncomalacia es una enfermedad de la vía aérea central caracterizada por una debilidad de la pared, con disminución dinámica de la luz de la tráquea y grandes bronquios principalmente durante la espiración. Genera síntomas crónicos que pueden evolucionar hasta la falla respiratoria grave, frecuentemente diagnosticados de forma errónea como asma o enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica (EPOC). Presentamos el caso de una paciente femenina de 70 años, con antecedente de artritis reumatoide y múltiples internaciones por cuadros respiratorios infecciosos en los 3 años previos.

ABSTRACT Tracheobroncomalacia is a disease of the central airway due to weakness of the wall with dynamic narrowing of the lumen of the trachea and mainstem bronchi during exhalation. It produces chronic symptoms that can progress to severe respiratory failure, often misdiagnosed as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We report the case of a 70-year-old female patient with a history of rheumatoid arthritis and multiple hospitalizations for recurrent respiratory infections over the past 3 years.

CT manifestations and application progress of airway complications after lung transplantation / 器官移植

With the continuous improvement of surgical techniques and perioperative management, the success rate of lung transplantation has gradually increased, but airway complications after lung transplantation are still common. Airway complications after lung transplantation may reduce the quality of life, increase medical costs, and even threaten the lives of the recipients. In 2018, the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation (ISHLT) consensus proposed that airway complications included ischemic necrosis, anastomotic dehiscence, airway stenosis and tracheobronchomalacia. Bronchoscopy remains the gold standard for the diagnosis of airway complications. However, during the follow-up of lung transplant recipients, use of end-inspiratory CT scan combined with end-expiratory or dynamic expiratory CT scan may contribute to identifying a variety of airway complications, evaluating the location and degree of airway complications and providing beneficial supplement for the selection of clinical treatment.

Traqueomalacia: diagnóstico y alternativas terapéuticas / Tracheomalacia: diagnosis and treatment options

La traqueomalacia (TM) consiste en una excesiva colapsabilidad traqueal debida a una anomalía estructural del cartílago y/o de la pared membranosa posterior. Cuando se extiende a uno o ambos bronquios principales se denomina traqueobroncomalacia (TBM). Considerando diferentes clasificaciones, la mayoría de las TM son adquiridas, localizadas e intratorácicas. El diagnóstico clínico es difícil porque los síntomas son inespecíficos y se superponen con los de otras enfermedades respiratorias crónicas. Los síntomas más frecuentes incluyen estridor espiratorio, tos perruna e infecciones respiratorias recurrentes, en los casos más graves se presentan episodios de dificultad respiratoria severa, cianosis e incluso muerte súbita. La fibrobroncoscopía sigue siendo el método diagnóstico estándar de oro, complementándose con la tomografía computarizada que es esencial en la visualización de las estructuras adyacentes a la vía aérea. En los casos leves el tratamiento es conservador, considerando la resolución espontánea de la mayoría de los casos hacia los 2 años de edad. En los pacientes más sintomáticos la estrategia terapéutica se debe evaluar caso a caso, siendo la presión positiva contínua en vía aérea (no invasiva o invasiva por traqueostomía) el tratamiento más utilizado. En las TM-TBM más severas, entre posibles tratamientos que incluyen cirugía traqueal y prótesis en la vía aérea, lo más usado es aortoarteriopexia y traqueopexia, a la espera de resultados promisorios de mallas endoluminales biodegradables y prótesis reabsorbibles personalizadas impresas en 3D.

Tracheomalacia (TM) is defined as an increased collapsibility of the trachea due to structural anomalies of the cartilaginous rings and/or the posterior membrane. When the main bronchi is also affected this condition is termed as tracheobronchomalacia (TBM). According classifications TM is mostly acquired, localized and intrathoracic. Diagnosing TM is challenging because symptoms are nonspecific and overlap with those of other chronic respiratory disorders. The most common symptoms include expiratory stridor, barking cough and recurrent respiratory tract infections, in severe cases, severe respiratory distress episodes and acute life threatening events can occur. While flexible bronchoscopy is still considered as the gold standard diagnostic method, computed tomography is essential in assessing the surrounding structures. Conservative therapy is preferred in milder cases since the outcome is usually favorable within the first 2 years of life. Treatment of more symptomatic children should be discussed on an individual basis, continuous positive airway pressure (non invasive o invasive via tracheostomy) being the most widely used therapy. For more severe TM-TBM, amongst possible treatments including tracheal surgery and airway stenting, aortoarteriopexy and tracheopexy are mostly used, nevertheless absorbable stent and 3D printed customed prosthesis are being developed with promising results.

Silicone stent insertion for treating tracheobronchomalacia in adults / 中国组织工程研究

BACKGROUND: Silicone tracheobronchial stent insertion can provide symptomatic relief through airway stabilization in patients with symptomatic tracheobronchomalacia. However, there are few studies on this method. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of silicone stents in the treatment of tracheobronchomalacia. METHODS: Eight tracheobronchomalacia patients who underwent silicone stent implantation at Henan Provincial People’s Hospital between September 2015 and December 2018 were included in this study. According to the location and degree of airway softening, appropriate silicone stents were designed. Silicone stents were implanted in all eight patients, including hourglass stents in 2 cases, straight tube stents in 2 patients, Y-shaped stents in 3 patients, and T-shaped stents in 1 patient. All patients provided informed consent and this study was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of Henan Provincial People's Hospital, China. Blood gas analysis was performed before and 30 days after surgery to measure blood oxygen level. Quality of life was assessed by card score. The position of stent, intraluminal endocrine, and granulation growth were dynamically monitored by bronchoscopy at 7, 30 and 60 days after surgery. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Silicone airway stents were placed successfully in seven patients. Dyspnea was relieved immediately. One patient had rupture of left main bronchial membrane during the procedure of insertion. The partial oxygen pressure and chi-square score of seven patients at 30 days after surgery were significantly higher than those before surgery (t=-8. 60, -20. 76, P < 0. 05). Tracheoscopy revealed that stent displacement occurred in 3 patients, difficulty in sputum expectoration and mild granulation tissue hyperplasia occurred in 3 patients, and improved after endoscopic treatment. The results suggest that silicone stent insertion in patients with tracheobronchomalacia can alleviate the symptoms of patients. Although the incidence of silicone stent displacement and sputum obstruction is high, silicone stent insertion is still an important treatment method.

Four-Dimensional Thoracic CT in Free-Breathing Children

In pediatric thoracic CT, respiratory motion is generally treated as a motion artifact degrading the image quality. Conversely, respiratory motion in the thorax can be used to answer important clinical questions, that cannot be assessed adequately via conventional static thoracic CT, by utilizing four-dimensional (4D) CT. However, clinical experiences of 4D thoracic CT are quite limited. In order to use 4D thoracic CT properly, imagers should understand imaging techniques, radiation dose optimization methods, and normal as well as typical abnormal imaging appearances. In this article, the imaging techniques of pediatric thoracic 4D CT are reviewed with an emphasis on radiation dose. In addition, several clinical applications of pediatric 4D thoracic CT are addressed in various thoracic functional abnormalities, including upper airway obstruction, tracheobronchomalacia, pulmonary air trapping, abnormal diaphragmatic motion, and tumor invasion. One may further explore the clinical usefulness of 4D thoracic CT in free-breathing children, which can enrich one's clinical practice.

Atelectasia lobar. Manifestación infrecuente de traqueobroncomalacia en adultos / Lobar atelectasis unusual presentation of tracheobronchomalacia in adults

Resumen Las alteraciones dinámicas del sistema respiratorio que condicionan colapso del lumen traqueobronquial durante la espiración favorecen síntomas inespecíficos o no atribuibles a una enfermedad respiratoria en particular. El diagnóstico preciso de la entidad clínica tiene implicaciones terapéuticas y pronosticas. La traqueobroncomalacia se diagnostica cuando existe una disminución en el lumen traqueobronquial mayor al 50% visible mediante exploración con broncoscopía. La etiología más frecuente en adultos es la forma adquirida y es rara la asociación con atelectasia.

Abstract Respiratory dynamic abnormalities that contributes with collapse of the airway luminal during expiration can cause nonspecific symptoms or not related to a respiratory disease. Accurate diagnosis of the clinical entity has therapeutic implications and is important for the prognosis. Tracheobronchomalacia is diagnosed when there is a decrease in the lumen tracheobronchial greater than 50% visible through exploration with Bronchoscopy. The main etiology in adults was the acquired form and association with lung atelectasis was rare.

Respiratory insufficiency and dynamic hyperinflation after rigid bronchoscopy in a patient with relapsing polychondritis: a case report / 대한마취과학회지

Relapsing polychondritis (RP) is an uncommon disease that is characterized by inflammation and destruction of cartilaginous structures. When tracheobronchial tree is involved, respiratory obstructive symptoms can occur. A 35-year-old man, with a previous diagnosis of RP, was scheduled for rigid bronchoscopy to relieve dyspnea, caused by subglottic stenosis. After laser splitting of the subglottic web, the spontaneous respiration of the patient was insufficient, and hypercarbia developed progressively even with assisted ventilation. After 20 minutes of aggressive hyperventilation to reduce end-tidal CO2 level, sudden extreme tachycardia and hypotension developed. Ventilation rate was reduced and prolonged expiration time was allowed to alleviate a near-tampon status from dynamic hyperinflation. After the hemodynamic status was stabilized, the patient was transferred to the ICU for mechanical ventilation. He received ICU care for 30 days, and now, he was on supportive care on a ward, considering Y stent insertion to prevent luminal collapse from tracheobronchomalacia.

Airway Y-stent Insertion in Tracheobronchomalacia: A New Experience

This case report describes a rigid bronchoscopy-assisted placement of a silicone airway Y-stent in a patient who developed tracheobronchomalacia following repeated dilatations for post-tuberculous airway stenosis. This is the first report of an airway Y-stent insertion in Malaysia.

Stridor and respiratory failure due to tracheobronchomalacia: case report and review of the literature / Estridor e falência respiratória devido a traqueobroncomalácia: relato de caso e revisão da literatura

CONTEXT: Tracheobronchomalacia (TBM) results from structural and functional abnormalities of the respiratory system. It is characterized by excessive collapse: at least 50 percent of the cross-sectional area of the trachea and main bronchi. In this paper, we present a rare case of a patient with TBM who first presented with stridor and respiratory failure due to exacerbation of chronic bronchitis. CASE REPORT: An 81-year-old Caucasian man was admitted presenting coughing, purulent sputum, stridor and respiratory failure. He had a medical history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and silicosis and was a former smoker. Axial computed tomography on the chest revealed marked collapse of the trachea in its middle third. Bronchoscopy showed characteristics compatible with TBM. He was treated with noninvasive ventilation, without any good response. Subsequently, a Dumon Y stent was placed by means of rigid bronchoscopy. After the procedure, he was discharged with a clinical improvement. CONCLUSION: TBM is fatal and often underdiagnosed. In COPD patients, stridor and respiratory failure may be helpful signs that should alert physicians to consider TBM as an early diagnosis. Thus, these signs may be important for optimizing the treatment and evolution of such patients.

CONTEXTO: Traqueobroncomalácia (TBM) é resultado de alterações funcionais e estruturais do aparelho respiratório. É caracterizada pelo colapso excessivo de pelo menos 50 por cento da área de secção transversal da traqueia e dos brônquios principais. Neste trabalho, descrevemos um raro caso de paciente com TBM que primeiro apresentou estridor e insuficiência respiratória devido à exacerbação da bronquite crônica. RELATO DE CASO: Homem de 81 anos de idade, caucasiano, foi admitido apresentando tosse, expectoração purulenta, estridor e falência respiratória. Ele apresentava história médica prévia de doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica (DPOC), silicose e era ex-tabagista. A tomografia axial computadorizada de tórax revelou marcado colapso da traqueia em seu terço médio. A broncoscopia mostrou aspectos compatíveis com TBM. Foi submetido a ventilação não invasiva, sem boa resposta. Na sequência, foi colocado stent Dumon em Y por broncoscopia rígida. Após o procedimento, o paciente teve alta com melhora clínica. CONCLUSÃO: TBM é uma entidade fatal e muitas vezes subdiagnosticada. Em pacientes com DPOC, o estridor e a insuficiência respiratória podem ser sinais úteis que devem alertar os médicos a considerar TBM como diagnóstico precoce. Assim, pode ser importante para otimizar o tratamento e a evolução dos pacientes.

Traqueobroncomalacia en niños / Tracheobronchomalacia in children

Tracheobronchomalacia refers to the presence of trachea and bronchi with soft, collapsible walls. Its incidence has been reported from 1:1500 to 1:2500. It can be congenital or acquired. This disease ranges from mild to life threatening. A high clinical suspicion is required for diagnosis, which needs to be confirmed endoscopically. Depending on severity, treatment can include from physical therapy and antibiotics to mechanical ventilation, surgery and tracheostomy, and is based on expert opinion and case series. Prognosis is usually good, with tendency to spontaneous resolution near the 2d year of life.

Traquebroncomalacia se refiere a la presencia de tráquea y/o bronquios cuya pared es blanda y tiene tendencia al colapso. Se ha reportado una incidencia entre 1:1.500 a 1:2.500. Puede ser congénita o adquirida. La severidad de los síntomas varía desde leve a incluso riesgo vital y muerte. El diagnóstico requiere una alta sospecha clínica y confirmación endoscópica. El tratamiento está basado en opiniones de expertos y series clínicas y varía según la severidad de los síntomas desde kinesioterapia y antibióticos en los casos más leves hasta ventilación mecánica, traqueostomía y cirugía en los más severos. El pronóstico en general es bueno con tendencia a la resolución espontánea aproximadamente a los 2 años de vida.

Tracheobronchomalacia Presenting as Infantile Wheeze.

We report six months old infant with a history of recurrent wheeze, admitted for foreign body aspiration like presentation, where fibreoptic bronchoscopy revealed the diagnosis of tracheobronchomalacia.

Successful Management of Tracheobronchomalacia Associated with Empyema Using a Covered Metallic Tracheobronchial Stent: A Case Report / 대한구급학회지

Tracheobronchomalacia is developed by excessively weakened walls of the trachea and bronchi, and shows dynamic collapse of the airway on expiration and causes dyspnea. Airway stenting or surgical correction of the airway may be helpful. We report a case with tracheobronchomalacia which was combined with chronic empyema and treated successfully with stent insertion.

A Case of Postpneumonectomy Syndrome Treated with Endobronchial Stent / 결핵

Postpneumonectomy syndrome is a rare complication that usually occurs in younger patients within the first year after a right total lung resection. Its clinical presentations are stridor, dyspnea, and recurrent pulmonary infections. An airway obstruction secondary to the extreme mediastinal shift and rotation after a pneumonectomy is the main mechanism. It is commonly complicated with tracheobronchomalacia due to longstanding airway compression. The management modalities involve a repositioning of the mediastinum with volume expansion of the pneumonectomy site by a expandable prosthesis. however, other methods including an endobronchial stent insertion should be considered in the presence of a tracheobronchomalacia or in poor surgical candidates. Here we describe a case of postpneumonectomy syndrome complicated by a bronchomalacia, which was successfully treated with a self-expandable endobronchal stent.