Prophylactic Flexible Bronchoscopy Immediately following Open Airway Reconstruction in Children.

OBJECTIVES: Prophylactic flexible bronchoscopy immediately following open airway reconstruction allows for directed clearance of the distal airways, potentially reducing the rate of certain postoperative respiratory complications. In this investigation, we sought to determine if prophylactic flexible bronchoscopy at the conclusion of pediatric open airway reconstruction has any benefit over blind flexible suctioning of the trachea. METHODS: A retrospective, single-center study at an urban tertiary care hospital was completed. From January 2010 to April 2013, patients underwent open airway reconstruction, immediately followed by blind flexible suctioning of the trachea for distal airway clearance. From May 2013 through December 2016, sequential patients underwent prophylactic flexible bronchoscopy immediately following airway reconstruction. RESULTS: A total of 29 patients (age: 3.6 months-6.2 years) met inclusion criteria. Sixteen sequential patients underwent simple blind flexible suctioning and 13 sequential patients underwent directed, prophylactic flexible bronchoscopy. Demographics and comorbidities between the groups were equivalent other than slightly older age in the prophylactic bronchoscopy group. All clinical outcomes analyzed were equivalent other than faster time to room air (P < .002) and a decrease in the number of chest physical therapy sessions (P < .02) in a subset of patients who did not undergo prophylactic bronchoscopy. CONCLUSION: This investigation suggests that the use of prophylactic flexible bronchoscopy immediately following open airway reconstruction may not be superior to blind flexible suctioning of the trachea in limiting postoperative pulmonary complications. Further studies of greater power are needed to better elucidate any small differences that may exist between these two interventions.

Diet-induced weight loss in overweight or obese women and changes in high-density lipoprotein levels and function.

Diet-induced weight loss in women may be associated with decreases not only in plasma levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), but also in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). Whether a decrease in HDL-C is associated with altered HDL function is unknown. One hundred overweight or obese women (age 46 ± 11 years, 60 black; 12 diabetic) were enrolled in the 6-month program of reduced fat and total energy diet and low-intensity exercise. Serum cholesterol efflux capacity was measured in (3)H-cholesterol-labeled BHK cells expressing ABCA1, ABCG1, or SR-B1 transporters and incubated with 1% apolipoprotein B (apoB)-depleted serum. Antioxidant properties of HDL were estimated by paraoxonase-1 (PON1) activity and oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC). Endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) activation was measured by conversion of L-arginine to L-citrulline in endothelial cells incubated with HDL from 49 subjects. Participants achieved an average weight loss of 2.2 ± 3.9 kg (P < 0.001), associated with reductions in both LDL-C (-6 ± 21 mg/dl, P = 0.004) and HDL-C (-3 ± 9 mg/dl, P = 0.016). Cholesterol efflux capacity by the ABCA1 transporter decreased by 10% (P = 0.006); efflux capacities by the ABCG1 and SR-B1 transporters were not significantly altered. ORAC decreased by 15% (P = 0.018); neither PON1 activity nor eNOS activation was significantly altered by reduction in HDL-C. Findings were similar for diabetic and nondiabetic subjects. Diet-induced weight loss in overweight or obese women is associated with a decrease in HDL-C levels, but overall HDL function is relatively spared, suggesting that decrease in HDL-C in this setting is not deleterious to cardiovascular risk.