Changes and treatment of cough and expectoration in the patients with lung cancer after airway stent placements / 第三军医大学学报

ABSTRACT

Objective To evaluate the changes and clinic countermeasures of cough and expectoration in the patients with lung cancer after airway stent placements. Methods With the fibrobronchoscope, metal stents were placed in tracheas, main bronchia or right intermediary bronchia. It was compared that the degrees of cough and expectoration difficulties, the volumes and mucin content of sputa and lung functions before the placements, within 3 d and 1 to 2 months after operation. Results Within postoperative 3 days, the patients coughed more frequently, but VC, FEV_(1) and PEF were improved significantly. In postoperative 1 to 2 months, the degrees of cough were close to preoperative degrees, lung functions kept on improved conditions, but expectoration difficulties, volumes and mucin contents of sputa increased markedly, especially in the patients with tectorial membrane stents. Proper stents and reasonable treatment including use of antitussive, apophlegmatisant and antibiotics could decrease the degrees of cough within postoperative 3 days, and expectoration difficulties, volumes and mucin contents of sputa in postoperative 1 to 2 months. Conclusion To the patients with malignant central airway constriction, metal stent placement would improve ventilative functions but bring difficulties for cough and expectoration. The side complications would be relieved through corresponding treatments.