Thoracoscopic Assessment of Pleural Tumor Burden in Patients with Malignant Pleural Effusion: Prognostic and Therapeutic Implications

Background:Malignant pleural effusion (MPE) is encountered at an advanced stage of disease progression and often heralds a poor prognosis. The most reliable predictive factor of survival in such patients is the primary tumor. Thoracoscopy is often performed for accurate diagnosis and/or thoracoscopic talc insufflation as a therapeutic modality. It remains unknown whether pleural tumor burden, as visualized on thoracoscopy, has potential prognostic value. The objective of this study was to determine the prognostic accuracy of pleural tumor extent and localization (parietal, visceral, or diaphragmatic involvement), as assessed during medical thoracoscopy.Methods:Medical records of all patients who underwent thoracoscopy for suspicion of MPE between 2001 and 2008 at a tertiary care referral hospital were reviewed. Patients were included if pleural metastatic invasion was confirmed on tissue biopsy and survival status ascertained.Results:Four hundred twenty-one patients underwent diagnostic or therapeutic medical thoracoscopy at our referral center. Among them, 122 had confirmed metastatic pleural spread, but survival data were lacking in 15. Primary tumor consisted of non-mall cell lung cancer in 56, breast cancer in 23, melanoma in eight, and other malignancies in 20. Median survival of the entire population was 9.4 months. On univariate analysis, the following variables were significantly associated with reduced median overall survival: pleural metastatic melanoma, age less than 60 years, bloody MPE, extensive pleural adhesions, and widespread visceral pleural nodules (p < 0.05). On multivariate analysis, only melanoma as a primary tumor, pleural fluid appearance and extent of pleural adhesions remained independent and significant predictors of survival.Conclusion:No significant association was found between the extent or localization of pleural tumor burden and overall survival

An eleven-year retrospective cross-sectional study on pulmonary alveolar proteinosis

Introduction: Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP) is a rare disease in the field of pulmonary medicine. The efficacy of whole-lunglavage (WLL) as the treatment of PAP had never been evaluated in the Iranian population. Therefore, there is a real need to investigatethe characteristics of PAP and also to evaluate the efficacy of WLL in this rare disease. The study aimed to investigatedemographic features, clinical presentation and treatment outcomes of the disease in Iranian PAP patients. Material and methods: Data of 45 patients with definite diagnosis of PAP, who had regular follow-ups from March 2004 to March2015 at an Iranian referral respiratory hospital, were collected. Whole-lung lavages (WLL) efficacy was assessed by comparingspirometric, arterial blood gas parameters and six-minute walk test (6MWT) results before and after all lavages. Results: Mean age at diagnosis of disease was 30.33 ± 14.56 years. Four patients (8.8%) reported non-massive hemoptysis and threesubjects (6.6%) had concomitant pulmonary tuberculosis. In 71.1% of cases, transbronchial lung biopsy and bronchoalveolar lavage weresufficient for diagnosis. Spirometric results and arterial blood gas parameters and 6MWD improved significantly after all the lavages. Fourpatients (8.8%) died because of respiratory failure. The only variable capable of predicting treatment failure was the history of hemoptysis. Conclusion: The study revealed sufficiency of WLL as the PAP patients’ treatment. Also hemoptysis was found to be the independentfactor that can predict treatment failure

Jedenastoletnie, retrospektywne badanie przekrojowe dotyczące proteinozy pęcherzyków płucnych

WSTĘP: Proteinoza pęcherzyków płucnych (PAP, pulmonary alveolar proteinosis) to rzadka choroba płuc. W populacji irańskiej nie analizowano nigdy skuteczności płukania całego płuca (WLL, whole-lung lavage) jako leczenia PAP. Z tego powodu oceniono charakterystykę PAP, a także skuteczność WLL w tej rzadkiej chorobie. Niniejsze badanie miało na celu analizę cech demograficznych, obrazu klinicznego i wyników leczenie tej choroby u irańskich pacjentów z PAP. MATERIAŁ I METODY: Zgromadzono dane 45 pacjentów z pewnym rozpoznaniem PAP, regularnie obserwowanych od marca 2004 do marca 2015 roku w irańskim szpitalu referencyjnym. Skuteczność WLL oceniano, porównując parametry spirometryczne, gazometrii krwi tętniczej oraz testu 6-minutowego marszu (6MWT, 6 minute walk test) przed i po wykonaniu wszystkich zabiegów płukania płuca. WYNIKI: Średni wiek w momencie rozpoznania choroby wynosił 30,33 ± 14,56 roku. U czterech pacjentów (8,8%) występowało niemasywne krwioplucie, u trzech (6,6%) współistniała gruźlica płuc. Biopsja przezoskrzelowa płuca i płukanie oskrzelowo- -pęcherzykowe w 71,1% przypadków były wystarczającymi badaniami do postawienia rozpoznania. Wyniki spirometryczne, parametry gazometrii krwi tętniczej i 6MWD poprawiły się znamiennie po przeprowadzeniu wszystkich zabiegów płukania płuca. Czterech pacjentów (8,8%) zmarło z powodu niewydolności oddechowej. Jedyną zmienną mogącą przewidzieć niepowodzenie leczenia było występowanie krwioplucia w wywiadzie chorobowym. WNIOSKI: W badaniu wykazano, że WLL jest leczeniem skutecznym u pacjentów z PAP. Krwioplucie było niezależnym czynnikiem predykcyjnym niepowodzenia leczenia.WSTĘP: Proteinoza pęcherzyków płucnych (PAP, pulmonary alveolar proteinosis) to rzadka choroba płuc. W populacji irańskiej nie analizowano nigdy skuteczności płukania całego płuca (WLL, whole-lung lavage) jako leczenia PAP. Z tego powodu oceniono charakterystykę PAP, a także skuteczność WLL w tej rzadkiej chorobie. Niniejsze badanie miało na celu analizę cech demograficznych, obrazu klinicznego i wyników leczenie tej choroby u irańskich pacjentów z PAP. MATERIAŁ I METODY: Zgromadzono dane 45 pacjentów z pewnym rozpoznaniem PAP, regularnie obserwowanych od marca 2004 do marca 2015 roku w irańskim szpitalu referencyjnym. Skuteczność WLL oceniano, porównując parametry spirometryczne, gazometrii krwi tętniczej oraz testu 6-minutowego marszu (6MWT, 6 minute walk test) przed i po wykonaniu wszystkich zabiegów płukania płuca. WYNIKI: Średni wiek w momencie rozpoznania choroby wynosił 30,33 ± 14,56 roku. U czterech pacjentów (8,8%) występowało niemasywne krwioplucie, u trzech (6,6%) współistniała gruźlica płuc. Biopsja przezoskrzelowa płuca i płukanie oskrzelowo- -pęcherzykowe w 71,1% przypadków były wystarczającymi badaniami do postawienia rozpoznania. Wyniki spirometryczne, parametry gazometrii krwi tętniczej i 6MWD poprawiły się znamiennie po przeprowadzeniu wszystkich zabiegów płukania płuca. Czterech pacjentów (8,8%) zmarło z powodu niewydolności oddechowej. Jedyną zmienną mogącą przewidzieć niepowodzenie leczenia było występowanie krwioplucia w wywiadzie chorobowym. WNIOSKI: W badaniu wykazano, że WLL jest leczeniem skutecznym u pacjentów z PAP. Krwioplucie było niezależnym czynnikiem predykcyjnym niepowodzenia leczenia

A Survey of the European Association of Bronchology and Interventional Pulmonology (EABIP)

Publisher Copyright: © Copyright 2017 S. Karger AG, Basel. All rights reserved.Background: Airway stenting (AS) commenced in Europe circa 1987 with the first placement of a dedicated silicone airway stent. Subsequently, over the last 3 decades, AS was spread throughout Europe, using different insertion techniques and different types of stents. Objectives: This study is an international survey conducted by the European Association of Bronchology and Interventional Pulmonology (EABIP) focusing on AS practice within 26 European countries. Methods: A questionnaire was sent to all EABIP National Delegates in February 2015. National delegates were responsible for obtaining precise and objective data regarding the current AS practice in their country. The deadline for data collection was February 2016. Results: France, Germany, and the UK are the 3 leading countries in terms of number of centres performing AS. These 3 nations represent the highest ranked nations within Europe in terms of gross national income. Overall, pulmonologists perform AS exclusively in 5 countries and predominately in 12. AS is performed almost exclusively in public hospitals. AS performed under general anaesthesia is the rule for the majority of institutions, and local anaesthesia is an alternative in 9 countries. Rigid bronchoscopy techniques are predominant in 20 countries. Amongst commercially available stents, both Dumon and Ultraflex are by far the most commonly deployed. Finally, 11 countries reported that AS is an economically viable activity, while 10 claimed that it is not. Conclusion: This EABIP survey demonstrates that there is significant heterogeneity in AS practice within Europe. Therapeutic bronchoscopy training and economic issues/reimbursement for procedures are likely to be the primary reasons explaining these findings.publishersversionpublishe

Current Practice of Airway Stenting in the Adult Population in Europe: A Survey of the European Association of Bronchology and Interventional Pulmonology (EABIP)

Background: Airway stenting (AS) commenced in Europe circa 1987 with the first placement of a dedicated silicone airway stent. Subsequently, over the last 3 decades, AS was spread throughout Europe, using different insertion techniques and different types of stents. Objectives: This study is an international survey conducted by the European Association of Bronchology and Interventional Pulmonology (EABIP) focusing on AS practice within 26 European countries. Methods: A questionnaire was sent to all EABIP National Delegates in February 2015. National delegates were responsible for obtaining precise and objective data regarding the current AS practice in their country. The deadline for data collection was February 2016. Results: France, Germany, and the UK are the 3 leading countries in terms of number of centres performing AS. These 3 nations represent the highest ranked nations within Europe in terms of gross national income. Overall, pulmonologists perform AS exclusively in 5 countries and predominately in 12. AS is performed almost exclusively in public hospitals. AS performed under general anaesthesia is the rule for the majority of institutions, and local anaesthesia is an alternative in 9 countries. Rigid bronchoscopy techniques are predominant in 20 countries. Amongst commercially available stents, both Dumon and Ultraflex are by far the most commonly deployed. Finally, 11 countries reported that AS is an economically viable activity, while 10 claimed that it is not. Conclusion: This EABIP survey demonstrates that there is significant heterogeneity in AS practice within Europe. Therapeutic bronchoscopy training and economic issues/reimbursement for procedures are likely to be the primary reasons explaining these findings. (C) 2017 S. Karger AG, Base

Approach to Hemoptysis in the Modern Era

Hemoptysis is a frequent manifestation of a wide variety of diseases, with mild to life-threatening presentations. The diagnostic workup and the management of severe hemoptysis are often challenging. Advances in endoscopic techniques have led to different new therapeutic approaches. Cold saline, vasoconstrictive and antifibrinolytic agents, oxidized regenerated cellulose, biocompatible glue, laser photocoagulation, argon plasma coagulation, and endobronchial stents and valves are amongst the tools available to the bronchoscopist. In this article, we review the evidence regarding the definition, etiology, diagnostic modalities, and treatment of severe hemoptysis in the modern era with emphasis on bronchoscopic techniques

Morphology quiz: Bronchial washing cytology from flexible bronchoscopy

International audienceThe aim of this observation is to make cytologists aware of the identification of melanoma cells in bronchial washings from an endobronchial metastasis of malignant melanoma. CT scan and flexible bronchoscopy images are provided and differential diagnosis and additional analyses (molecular biology) are mentioned and discussed

Successful Lung Volume Reduction Surgery after Endobronchial Coils Treatment in a Severe Emphysematous Patient

International audienc