Smoking-Associated Endotracheal Hair Growth: A Case Report on Tracheal Complications.

BACKGROUND A 52-year-old male patient presented with symptoms of chronic cough and persistent tracheal irritation 26 years after surgical closure of a tracheostoma, supported by an autologous auricular cartilage graft and cutaneous transplant. At the initial clinical presentation, the patient was an active smoker, with a cumulative dose of 31 pack years. CASE REPORT Bronchoscopy revealed endotracheal hair growth and local inflammation at the graft site. Initial anti-inflammatory, antimycotic, and antibacterial therapy was administered, followed by endoscopic structure remodeling. There were multiple recurrences with similar symptoms, showing isolated hair growth, without inflammation. Annual endoscopic restructuring sessions were indicated, and the patient experienced them as highly relieving. Recurrent hair growth was finally terminated by argon plasma laser-coagulation and after smoking cessation. We hypothesize that the onset of hair growth was triggered by the patient's cigarette smoking. CONCLUSIONS Endotracheal hair growth is a potential complication of autograft-supported tracheal restructuring. The initial administration of antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory medication, combined with endoscopic restructuring, could have contained the active inflammation; the application of argon plasma laser-coagulation finally stopped the hair growth. Smoking is associated with the upregulation of molecular signaling pathways in the respiratory epithelium, which can stimulate hair follicles, such as sonic hedgehog protein, WNT-1/ß-catenin, and epidermal growth factor receptor.

Management of patients with SARS-CoV-2 infections with focus on patients with chronic lung diseases (as of 10 January 2022) : Updated statement of the Austrian Society of Pneumology (ASP).

The Austrian Society of Pneumology (ASP) launched a first statement on severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in May 2020, at a time when in Austria 285 people had died from this disease and vaccinations were not available. Lockdown and social distancing were the only available measures to prevent more infections and the breakdown of the health system. Meanwhile, in Austria over 13,000 patients have died in association with a SARS-CoV­2 infection and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was among the most common causes of death; however, SARS-CoV­2 has been mutating all the time and currently, most patients have been affected by the delta variant where the vaccination is very effective but the omicron variant is rapidly rising and becoming predominant. Particularly in children and young adults, where the vaccination rate is low, the omicron variant is expected to spread very fast. This poses a particular threat to unvaccinated people who are at elevated risk of severe COVID-19 disease but also to people with an active vaccination. There are few publications that comprehensively addressed the special issues with SARS-CoV­2 infection in patients with chronic lung diseases. These were the reasons for this updated statement. Pulmonologists care for many patients with an elevated risk of death in case of COVID-19 but also for patients that might be at an elevated risk of vaccination reactions or vaccination failure. In addition, lung function tests, bronchoscopy, respiratory physiotherapy and training therapy may put both patients and health professionals at an increased risk of infection. The working circles of the ASP have provided statements concerning these risks and how to avoid risks for the patients.

Management of patients with SARS-CoV-2 infections and of patients with chronic lung diseases during the COVID-19 pandemic (as of 9 May 2020) : Statement of the Austrian Society of Pneumology (ASP).

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is currently a challenge worldwide. In Austria, a crisis within the healthcare system has so far been prevented. The treatment of patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), including SARS-CoV­2 infections, should continue to be based on evidence-based CAP guidelines during the pandemic; however, COVID-19 specific adjustments are useful. The treatment of patients with chronic lung diseases has to be adapted during the pandemic but must still be guaranteed.

Lung cancer in pregnancy.

In the 26th week of gestation, a 29-year-old pregnant office employee was referred to the pulmonary department of Linz General Hospital (AKH) under the suspicion of tuberculosis. She complained of a cough with intermittent hemoptysis and pain in the thoracic spine from which she had been suffering the past 9 weeks. A plain chest X-ray showed a dense infiltrate on the right side and multiple smaller shadows in both lungs. Laboratory testing revealed anemia, leukocytosis, and an increase of C-reactive protein. All tests for tuberculosis were negative.A bronchoscopy was performed and biopsies were taken from the right upper and middle lobe. The histopathological examination found cells of an adenocarcinoma. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a large tumor and surrounding atelectasis were seen in the right upper and middle lobe, as well as multiple intrapulmonary metastases in both lungs. In addition, not only metastases in the thoracic spine (level Th2/3) but also at other osseous locations and multiple cerebral metastases were detected. The patient received one cycle of chemotherapy consisting of docetaxel and carboplatin (AUC5) in the 27th week of gestation. Additional radiotherapy was applied to the involved thoracic spine. Due to positive epidermal growth factor receptor mutation, therapy with gefitinib 250 mg/day was started 2 days after a Caesarean section (preceded by treatment for fetal lung maturation). A healthy girl was delivered in the 30th week of pregnancy. Staging with computed tomography (CT) after delivery revealed an unstable fracture of Th2 with compression of the spinal cord. Neurosurgery was performed, consisting of a ventral corporectomy of Th1-2 followed by an anterior and posterior osteosynthesis for stabilization. The patient was discharged without neurological deficits within 1 week. Subsequent treatment with gefitinib improved the performance status of the patient, and CT scans of the chest and an MRI of the brain showed the size of the tumor to be shrinking. Meanwhile, the infant developed appropriately for her age.After 14 months of the first diagnosis, the patient experienced neurological symptoms (aphasia, confusion) due to neoplastic meningeosis and cerebral venous sinus thrombosis together with local tumor progression in the lung. One course of chemotherapy, combining carboplatin/pemetrexed/bevacizumab, was given without clinical response. Despite best supportive care, the patient died 17 months after diagnosis in October 2013.