Title
Therapeutic bronchoscopy for malignant central airway obstruction: success rates and impact on dyspnea and quality of life
Recommended Citation
Ost DE, Ernst A, Grosu HB, Lei X, Diaz-Mendoza J, Slade M, Gildea TR, Machuzak MS, Jimenez CA, Toth J, Kovitz KL, Ray C, Greenhill S, Casal RF, Almeida FA, Wahidi MM, Eapen GA, Feller-Kopman D, Morice RC, Benzaquen S, Tremblay A, and Simoff M. Therapeutic bronchoscopy for malignant central airway obstruction: success rates and impact on dyspnea and quality of life Chest 2015; 147(5):1282-1298.
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
5-1-2015
Publication Title
Chest
Abstract
BACKGROUND: There is significant variation between physicians in terms of how they perform therapeutic bronchoscopy, but there are few data on whether these differences impact effectiveness.
METHODS: This was a multicenter registry study of patients undergoing therapeutic bronchoscopy for malignant central airway obstruction. The primary outcome was technical success, defined as reopening the airway lumen to > 50% of normal. Secondary outcomes were dyspnea as measured by the Borg score and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) as measured by the SF-6D.
RESULTS: Fifteen centers performed 1,115 procedures on 947 patients. Technical success was achieved in 93% of procedures. Center success rates ranged from 90% to 98% (P = .02). Endobronchial obstruction and stent placement were associated with success, whereas American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) score > 3, renal failure, primary lung cancer, left mainstem disease, and tracheoesophageal fistula were associated with failure. Clinically significant improvements in dyspnea occurred in 90 of 187 patients measured (48%). Greater baseline dyspnea was associated with greater improvements in dyspnea, whereas smoking, having multiple cancers, and lobar obstruction were associated with smaller improvements. Clinically significant improvements in HRQOL occurred in 76 of 183 patients measured (42%). Greater baseline dyspnea was associated with greater improvements in HRQOL, and lobar obstruction was associated with smaller improvements.
CONCLUSIONS: Technical success rates were high overall, with the highest success rates associated with stent placement and endobronchial obstruction. Therapeutic bronchoscopy should not be withheld from patients based solely on an assessment of risk, since patients with the most dyspnea and lowest functional status benefitted the most.
Medical Subject Headings
Airway Obstruction; Bronchoscopy; Dyspnea; Female; Humans; Lung Neoplasms; Male; Middle Aged; Quality of Life; Remission Induction
PubMed ID
25358019
Volume
147
Issue
5
First Page
1282
Last Page
1298
