Ultrasound-Guided Anterior Mediastinotomy: A Feasible Tool for Critical Lymphoma Patients.

A significant part of all neoplasms growing in anterior mediastinum are lymphomas (25%). Achieving a correct diagnosis and a clear definition of a lymphoma's subtype is crucial for beginning chemotherapy as soon as possible. However, most patients present a large mediastinal mass that compresses vessels and airway, with serious cardiorespiratory repercussions. Therefore, having multiple tools available to biopsy the lesion without worsening morbidity becomes fundamental. Patients enrolled in this study were unfit for a surgical biopsy in general anesthesia and the need to begin chemotherapy as fast as possible prompted us to avoid percutaneous fine needle aspiration to prevent diagnostic failures. Our observational study included 13 consecutive patients with radiological findings of anterior mediastinal mass. Ultrasonography was performed directly in the theatre to mark the lesion and to localize vessels and vascularized neoplastic tissue. Open biopsy was carried out in spontaneous breathing with a laryngeal mask and with short-acting medications for a rapid anesthesia, performing an anterior mediastinotomy. The mean operative time was 33.4 ± 6.2 min and spontaneous respiration was maintained throughout the procedure. No complications were reported. All patients were discharged in the first or second postoperative day after a chest X-ray (1.38 ± 0.5 days). The diagnostic yield of this approach was 100%. With the addition of ultrasonography right before the procedure and with spontaneous breathing, anterior mediastinotomy still represents a useful tool in critical patients that could hardly tolerate a general anesthesia. The diagnostic yield is high, and the low postoperative morbidity allows a rapid onset of chemotherapy.

LMA® Protector™ versus traditional LMA to perform endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration: a retrospective analysis.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of laryngeal mask airway (LMA)® Protector™ by comparison with traditional LMA for performing endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA). METHODS: This was a retrospective observational single-center study including 143 patients who underwent EBUS-TBNA for mediastinal staging of lung cancer. Patients were retrospectively divided into two groups based on whether a traditional LMA (traditional LMA group) or LMA Protector was used. Anesthesiologist outcomes, diagnostic yield of EBUS-TBNA, and complications related to the procedure were computed for each group and statistically compared. RESULTS: LMA traditional group and LMA Protector group counted 70 and 73 patients, respectively. LMA traditional group versus LMA Protector group showed no significant difference on time of LMA insertion (120±25 vs. 118±39 s; P=0.49), reposition rates (18% vs. 16%; P=0.78); systolic pressure (140±55 vs. 118±37 mmHg; P=0.59); diastolic pressure (82±15 vs. 90±26 mmHg; P=0.39); heart rate (82±9.9 vs. 83±20 bpm; P=0.49); SpO2 values (93±21% vs. 92±14%; P=0.63); diagnostic accuracy (91.3% vs. 92%; P=0.95), and patients' complications as nausea (4% vs. 3%; P=0.61); vomiting (3% vs. 1%, P=0.96); gastric aspiration (7% vs. 1%; P=0.08); and sore throat (7% vs. 3%; P=0.22). Conversely, LMA traditional group versus LMA Protector group presented a longer procedural time (47±23 vs. 38±17 s; P=0.02), higher number of passage to biopsy target lesion (4±0.5 vs. 3.1±0.6; P=0.01); higher rate of balloon ultrasound rupture (11% vs. 1%; P=0.01). CONCLUSIONS: EBUS-TBNA conducted with LMA Protector is a useful strategy that reduced the procedural time and in theory ensured the comfort of patients. Our results should be confirmed by larger, prospective, randomized studies.

Bronchoscopic lung volume reduction with endobronchial valves for heterogeneous emphysema: long-term results.

BACKGROUND: Bronchoscopic lung volume reduction (BLVR) with implant of one-way endobronchial valves (EBV) is a feasible treatment for management of heterogeneous emphysema (HE) with clinical benefits in the early follow-up. We aimed to evaluate the long-terms results and safety of this procedure in a consecutive series of patients with HE. METHODS: It was a retrospective single center study including all consecutive patients with HE undergoing EBV treatment and completing at least 5 years of long-term follow-up. Patients were splitted into Collapse and No-Collapse Group if a lobar collapse or not were obtained after valves implant. The difference of functional data and quality of life (QoL) before and after the procedure (measured at 3, 6, 9, 12 months from the valve implantation, and then annually up to a maximum of 5 years) were statistically evaluated to show the long-term benefits of the procedure (primary endpoint). Yet, morbidity, mortality and survival rates were also recorded to show the safe of the treatment (secondary endpoint). RESULTS: Thirty-three patients were included in the study. Of these, three patients underwent a bilateral treatment. Collapse Group patients (n=27) presented a significant improvement in FEV1% (+17%; P=0.001); in FVC% (+18%; P=0.002); in RV% (-39%; P=0.003); in 6MWT (P=0.001) and in SGRQ (P=0.001) in the early 12 months of follow-up and no significant decline was seen later. Conversely, No-Collapse Group (n=9) did not have significant benefits. No major complications and death related to the procedure were observed. The 1-,2-,3-,4- and 5-year survival rates were 100%, 90%, 78%, 71% and 71%, respectively. Collapse Group had a better survival than No-Collapse Group (45 vs. 24 months; P=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our study confirmed that the lobar collapse is the key success of EBV treatment and the early improvements of respiratory function could be maintained up to five years from the valves implant.