Ultrasound in the Study of Thoracic Diseases: Innovative Aspects.

Thoracic ultrasound (TU) has rapidly gained popularity over the past 10 years. This is in part because ultrasound equipment is available in many settings, more training programmes are educating trainees in this technique, and ultrasound can be done rapidly without exposure to radiation. The aim of this review is to present the most interesting and innovative aspects of the use of TU in the study of thoracic diseases. In pleural diseases, TU has been a real revolution. It helps to differentiate between different types of pleural effusions, guides the performance of pleural biopsies when necessary and is more cost-effective under these conditions, and assists in the decision to remove thoracic drainage after talc pleurodesis. With the advent of COVID19, the use of TU has increased for the study of lung involvement. Nowadays it helps in the diagnosis of pneumonias, tumours and interstitial diseases, and its use is becoming more and more widespread in the Pneumology ward. In recent years, TU guided biopsies have been shown to be highly cost-effective, with other advantages such as the absence of radiation and the possibility of being performed at bedside. The use of contrast in ultrasound to increase the cost-effectiveness of these biopsies is very promising. In the study of the mediastinum and peripheral pulmonary nodules, the introduction of echobronchoscopy has brought about a radical change. It is a fully established technique in the study of lung cancer patients. The introduction of elastography may help to further improve its cost-effectiveness. In critically-ill patients, diaphragmatic ultrasound helps in the assessment of withdrawal of mechanical ventilation, and is now an indispensable tool in the management of these patients. In neuromuscular patients, ultrasound is a good predictor of impaired lung function. Currently, in Neuromuscular Disease Units, TU is an indispensable tool. Ultrasound study of the intercostal musculature is also effective in the study of respiratory function, and is widely used in Respiratory Rehabilitation. In Intermediate Care Units, thoracic ultrasound is indispensable for patient management. In these units there are ultrasound protocols for the management of patients with acute dyspnoea that have proven to be very effective.

Efficacy and Safety of Indwelling Catheter for Malignant Pleural Effusions Related to Timing of Cancer Therapy: A Systematic Review.

INTRODUCTION: To compare the efficacy and safety of indwelling pleural catheters (IPC) in relation with the timing of systemic cancer therapy (SCT) (i.e., before, during, or after SCT) in patients with malignant pleural effusion (MPE). METHODS: Systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCT), quasi-controlled trials, prospective and retrospective cohorts, and case series of over 20 patients, in which the timing of IPC insertion in relation to that of SCT was provided. Medline (via PubMed), Embase, and Cochrane Library were systematically searched from inception to January 2023. The risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias (ROB) tool for RCTs and the ROB in non-randomized studies of interventions (ROBINS-I) for non-randomized designs. RESULTS: Ten studies (n=2907 patients; 3066 IPCs) were included. Using SCT while the IPC was in situ decreased overall mortality, increased survival time, and improved quality-adjusted survival. Timing of SCT had no effect on the risk of IPC-related infections (2.85% overall), even in immunocompromised patients with moderate or severe neutropenia (relative risk 0.98 [95%CI: 0.93-1.03] for patients treated with the combination of IPC and SCT). The inconsistency of the results or the lack of analysis of all outcome measures in relation to the SCT/IPC timing precluded drawing solid conclusions about time to IPC removal or need of re-interventions. CONCLUSIONS: Based on observational evidence, the efficacy and safety of IPC for MPE does not seem to vary depending on the IPC insertion timing (before, during, or after SCT). The data most likely support early IPC insertion.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Pleural Effusion. Recommendations of the Spanish Society of Pulmonology and Thoracic Surgery. Update 2022.

Pleural effusion (PE) is a common yet complex disease that requires specialized, multidisciplinary management. Recent advances, novel diagnostic techniques, and innovative patient-centered therapeutic proposals have prompted an update of the current guidelines. This document provides recommendations and protocols based on a critical review of the literature on the epidemiology, etiology, diagnosis, prognosis, and new therapeutic options in PE, and addresses some cost-effectiveness issues related to the main types of PE.

Cryotherapy in the paediatric airway: Indications, success and safety.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Cryotherapy in interventional bronchoscopy is a new treatment modality, which has recently been made available for the paediatric airway. Lack of experience and safety concerns have led to hesitant adaptation. The aim of this study was to assess indications, success rates and complications of airway cryotherapy in children. METHODS: Bronchoscopists from medical centre performing cryotherapy in patients between 0 and 18 years were invited to participate in a prospective study based on an online questionnaire. Patient and participant data were collected between June 2020 and June 2021. RESULTS: A total of 69 cryotherapy procedures were performed in 57 patients a for three main indications: Biopsy (30), restoration of airway patency (23) and foreign body aspiration (16). The overall success rate was 93%, the remaining 7% were performed for foreign body removal and required a switch of technique. Restoration of airway patency was successfully applied in various pathologies, including mucus plugs, bronchial casts and post traumatic stenosis. The diagnostic yield of transbronchial biopsies was 96%. No severe complications were encountered; one pneumothorax following a cryobiopsy required a chest drain for 48 h. No child was admitted to intensive care or died from a procedural complication. CONCLUSION: In this largest paediatric case collection to date, cryotherapy was safe and carried a high success rate. Cryobiopsy compares favourably to the widely used forceps biopsy and could replace it in the future. Paediatric bronchoscopists are encouraged to add cryotherapy to their armamentarium of airway interventions.

The role of bronchoscopy in patients with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia.

BACKGROUND: The role of bronchoscopy in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a matter of debate. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This observational multicentre study aimed to analyse the prognostic impact of bronchoscopic findings in a consecutive cohort of patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19. Patients were enrolled at 17 hospitals from February to June 2020. Predictors of in-hospital mortality were assessed by multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: A total of 1027 bronchoscopies were performed in 515 patients (age 61.5±11.2 years; 73% men), stratified into a clinical suspicion cohort (n=30) and a COVID-19 confirmed cohort (n=485). In the clinical suspicion cohort, the diagnostic yield was 36.7%. In the COVID-19 confirmed cohort, bronchoscopies were predominantly performed in the intensive care unit (n=961; 96.4%) and major indications were: difficult mechanical ventilation (43.7%), mucus plugs (39%) and persistence of radiological infiltrates (23.4%). 147 bronchoscopies were performed to rule out superinfection, and diagnostic yield was 42.9%. There were abnormalities in 91.6% of bronchoscopies, the most frequent being mucus secretions (82.4%), haematic secretions (17.7%), mucus plugs (17.6%), and diffuse mucosal hyperaemia (11.4%). The independent predictors of in-hospital mortality were: older age (OR 1.06; p<0.001), mucus plugs as indication for bronchoscopy (OR 1.60; p=0.041), absence of mucosal hyperaemia (OR 0.49; p=0.041) and the presence of haematic secretions (OR 1.79; p=0.032). CONCLUSION: Bronchoscopy may be indicated in carefully selected patients with COVID-19 to rule out superinfection and solve complications related to mechanical ventilation. The presence of haematic secretions in the distal bronchial tract may be considered a poor prognostic feature in COVID-19.

Argon plasma coagulation for management of hemoptysis in endobronchial metastasis from soft-tissue sarcoma.

Hemoptysis is a manifestation of a wide variety of diseases. Endobronchial metastases from nonpulmonary neoplasms are unusual. Among these causes, soft-tissue sarcoma is also discretely rare and scarcely documented. Argon plasma coagulation is a useful tool for the interventional pulmonologist that can allow control of bleeding from these lesions. Here we report a case of hemoptysis from an endobronchial metastasis of soft-tissue sarcoma. Argon plasma coagulation of the bleeding lesion was performed successfully.

Salvage therapy with topical posaconazole in lung transplant recipients with invasive Scedosporium infection.

Scedosporium is an important pathogen in cystic fibrosis (CF) and post-transplantation, but it rarely causes invasive infection. Treatment remains challenging, particularly due to the inherent resistance to multiple antifungal agents. We present 3 complicated invasive tracheobronchial and lung Scedosporium apiospermum infections following lung transplantation. In 2 of 3 cases, the infection was clinically and radiologically cured with frequent cleansing bronchoscopies, combining triazole with terbinafine therapy and nebulized posaconazole. These cases highlight the importance of adjunctive nebulized therapy in addition to prolonged triazole treatment to manage complex invasive Scedosporium infections in immunosuppressed patients. Posaconazole (PSZ) was delivered during the bronchoscopy procedure through intrabronchial administration, whereas an eFlow rapid® device was used for nebulized therapy. Topical posaconazole was well tolerated in 2 patients, with only a slight cough during administrations; the third patient had local irritation with poor tolerance, which led to its withdrawal. This is the first report on compassionate use of topical PSZ as salvage therapy for resistant mold infections in lung transplant recipients. These 3 cases represent the entire experience using this approach; no additional patients have received this therapy due to there not having been any additional cases of Scedosporium tracheobronchitis presented.

Tolerance and Safety of 5 Models of Sedation During Endobronchial Ultrasound.

INTRODUCTION: Sedation during endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) is essential due to the long duration of this procedure. We evaluated different models of sedation and their complications. METHOD: A multicenter, prospective, observational study of 307 patients undergoing EBUS was conducted. Patients were sedated with: a) midazolam bolus; b) propofol infusion; c) midazolam bolus and propofol infusion; d) propofol infusion and remifentanil infusión, or e) midazolam bolus and fentanyl bolus, and clinical variables were collected. Patients were asked to complete a satisfaction survey following the test. RESULTS: Patients per sedation model were: A 24, B 37, C 107, D 62 and E 77. Scores for perceived sensations of recall, pain, cough, dyspnea and prolonged examination (0.65±1.11; 0 3±0.73, 0.46±0.9, 0.29±0.73, and 0.59±0.96, respectively) were lower compared to fear and nervousness before the examination (1.26±1.37 and 1.5±1.41, respectively). High levels of indifference to repeating the procedure (1.49±1.3) and a reported pleasant feeling during the test (1.23±1.17), with low levels of anxiety (0.49±0.85) and discomfort (0.62±1.1), show that different models of sedation were well tolerated. Almost half the patients (46.6%) did not report any "worst moment" during the procedure, and 89.6% were willing to undergo a repeat test. The E and C models presented fewest complications (12.9 and 31.7%, respectively), and all were resolved with simple therapeutic measures. CONCLUSIONS: The models of sedation evaluated were well tolerated and most patients were willing to undergo repeat EBUS. Complications were few and easily resolved.

Recommendations of diagnosis and treatment of pleural effusion. Update.

Although during the last few years there have been several important changes in the diagnostic or therapeutic methods, pleural effusion is still one of the diseases that the respiratory specialist have to evaluate frequently. The aim of this paper is to update the knowledge about pleural effusions, rather than to review the causes of pleural diseases exhaustively. These recommendations have a longer extension for the subjects with a direct clinical usefulness, but a slight update of other pleural diseases has been also included. Among the main scientific advantages are included the thoracic ultrasonography, the intrapleural fibrinolytics, the pleurodesis agents, or the new pleural drainages techniques.

Tru-cut needle pleural biopsy and cytology as the initial procedure in the evaluation of pleural effusion.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: The evaluation of pleural effusion (PE) includes various techniques, including pleural biopsy (PB). Our aim was to study the diagnostic yield of Tru-Cut needle PB (TCPB) and to define clinical/radiological situations in which TCPB might be indicated as an initial procedure. METHODOLOGY: Retrospective study of TCPB in a hospital centre (2010-2012). Cases of pleural lesions without effusion were excluded. Clinical and radiological variables, diagnostic yield, TCPB complications and factors associated with the diagnostic yield of the combination of TCPB and thoracocentesis as initial procedure were analysed. RESULTS: One hundred and twenty-seven (127) TCPB were reviewed: 29.1% were cases of malignant PE and in 18.9% the cause of the PE could not be determined. The diagnostic yield of TCPB for tuberculosis was 76.5% (13/17) and 54% (20/37) for malignant PE. Complications occurred in 4.7% of the cases. In 72 patients with a final definitive diagnosis, TCPB was performed at the same time as the initial thoracocentesis. Diagnostic yield for the combination of TCPB/cytology as an initial technique was 43% (31/72) compared to 12.5% (9/72) for cytology only (p=0.01). The only predictive variable for the indication of TCBP as an initial technique was a PE volume>2/3 (P=.04). CONCLUSIONS: TCPB is safe and provides an acceptable diagnostic yield, particularly when combined with simultaneous cytology in the evaluation of PE of various aetiologies. Radiological criteria may help guide the selection of patients who could benefit from this technique as an initial procedure combined with thoracocentesis.

Intra- and interobserver agreement among bronchial endosonographers for the description of intrathoracic lymph nodes.

Several sonographic features observed by endobronchial ultrasonography have been suggested to be useful to predict malignancy in mediastinal lymph nodes. To evaluate agreement to describe sonographic features, 28 video images were evaluated twice by eight expert bronchoscopists. The observers reviewed each case for the presence of coagulation necrosis sign (CNS), central hilar structure (CHS), heterogeneity, distinct margin, round shape, size >1 cm and malignancy. Intraobserver agreement was almost perfect for size (κ = 0.826), substantial for CNS (κ = 0.721) and shape (κ = 0.615), and moderate for CHS (κ = 0.565), heterogeneity (κ = 0.441) and margin (κ = 0.407). Interobserver agreement was substantial for size (κ = 0.641), moderate for shape (κ = 0.445), and fair for CNS (κ = 0.340) and margin (κ = 0.274). In conclusion, inter- and intraobserver agreement of the endosonographic features for mediastinal or hilar lymph nodes is good for shape or size but not good enough for the other ultrasonographic features.

[A randomised study of midazolam for sedation in flexible bronchoscopy]. / Eficacia del midazolam para la sedación en la broncoscopia flexible. Un estudio aleatorizado.

INTRODUCTION: Flexible bronchoscopy (FB) is a procedure which is not usually tolerated well by the patient. This makes the examination more difficult, often needing repetition with the subsequent lowering of diagnostic performance. OBJECTIVE: The principal aim of our study is to analyse whether the use of a local anaesthetic with midazolam whilst performing an FB improves the quality of examination in terms of patient tolerance. Also of interest was to find out if this would improve the acceptance of a second or further FB, and the satisfaction of the bronchoscopist in performing these examinations. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A randomised, double blind and controlled with placebo, prospective study has been carried out to assess the use of midazolam. This included 152 patients, randomised into two groups: Group A-79 (51.9%) patients who received midazolam before the FB, and Group B-73 (49.1%) patients who received placebo. The patients were given a questionnaire about different aspects of perception of the procedure after the respiratory endoscopy and another was given to the bronchoscopist. RESULTS: Both groups started off with a similar assessment of fear and nervousness. Group A gave a much higher score than Group B referring to variables related to symptoms and feeling. Patient cooperation assessed by the bronchoscopist was similar in both groups, although the length of the procedure and difficulty was higher in group B. CONCLUSION: Our results show that patients sedated with midazolam tolerate FB better, remember less of the procedure itself and have a better predisposition to repeat the procedure. The bronchoscopist has less difficulties during the procedure and shortens the time using the same techniques during the bronchoscopy. The lack of severe complications and these results suggest the use of sedation with midazolam as routine during FB.

[Pulmonary embolism caused by elemental mercury]. / Embolia pulmonar por mercurio elemental.

Intravenous mercury administration is a rare occurrence that is typically associated with accidental injections or suicide attempts. We report the case of a 42-year-old man who attempted suicide by injecting mercury into the left cubital vein. Upon arrival at the emergency department, he was in a state of alcohol intoxication and there were signs of vein puncture and cellulitis in his left arm. He had no respiratory symptoms. A chest x-ray revealed numerous metallic opacities dispersed throughout both lungs. He was admitted to hospital and treated with chelating agents (dimercaprol) and hemodialysis. A month later, the patient returned to the emergency department with respiratory symptoms, and a chest x-ray revealed right pleural effusion.