Tracheobronchoplasty yields long-term anatomy, function, and quality of life improvement for patients with severe excessive central airway collapse.

OBJECTIVES: This study examines the long-term anatomic and clinical effects of tracheobronchoplasty in severe excessive central airway collapse. METHODS: Included patients underwent tracheobronchoplasty for excessive central airway collapse (2002-2016). The cross-sectional area of main airways on dynamic airway computed tomography was measured before and after tracheobronchoplasty. Expiratory collapse was calculated as the difference between inspiratory and expiratory cross-sectional area divided by inspiratory cross-sectional area ×100. The primary outcome was improvement in the percentage of expiratory collapse in years 1, 2, and 5 post-tracheobronchoplasty. Secondary outcomes included mean response profile for the 6-minute walk test, Cough-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire, Karnofsky Performance Status score, and St George Respiratory Questionnaire. Repeated-measures analysis of variance was used for statistical analyses. RESULTS: The cohort included 61 patients with complete radiological follow-up at years 1, 2, and 5 post-tracheobronchoplasty. A significant linear decrease in the percentage of expiratory collapsibility of the central airways after tracheobronchoplasty was present. Anatomic repair durability was preserved 5 years after tracheobronchoplasty, with decrease in percentage of expiratory airway collapse up to 40% and 30% at years 1 and 2, respectively. The St George Respiratory Questionnaire (74.7 vs 41.8%, P < .001) and Cough-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire (78 vs 47, P < .001) demonstrated significant improvement at year 5 compared with baseline. Similar results were observed in the 6-minute walk test (1079 vs 1268 ft, P < .001) and Karnofsky score (57 vs 82, P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Tracheobronchoplasty has durable effects on airway anatomy, functional status, and quality of life in carefully selected patients with severe excessive central airway collapse.

Left ventricular assist device placement in the setting of congenital VSD.

We describe the management of a 59-year-old female with an unrepaired congenital ventricular septal defect (VSD) and end stage nonischemic cardiomyopathy necessitating placement of a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) as a destination treatment. Simultaneous repair of the VSD was performed during the LVAD implantation under a beating heart. The patient remained hemodynamically stable throughout her postoperative course, without signs of hypoxia or cyanosis. Following discharge, outpatient surveillance echocardiogram demonstrated successful VSD closure and no residual shunt.

A case of fulminant myocarditis due to COVID-19 in an adolescent patient successfully treated with venous arterial ECMO as a bridge to recovery.

Emerging data suggest an association between severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 and the development of acute myocarditis, with children and older adults being most at risk. We describe the clinical course of a previously healthy 12-year-old female who rapidly deteriorated into cardiogenic shock and arrest due to coronavirus disease 2019 induced fulminant myocarditis, necessitating venous-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation as a bridge to full recovery. This case highlights the importance of early clinical recognition of myocardial involvement, and the benefits of taking a multidisciplinary approach in treating these patients.

Off pump coronary artery bypass in patients with an ejection fraction of <20%. What is our strategy?

Patients with left ventricular dysfunction and low ejection fraction (EF) are at high risk of complication and mortality after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). The potential success of off-pump CABG in this high-risk population has yet to be illustrated. Herein, we present our experience in regards to surgical planning and strategy on how to perform off-pump CABG in patients with very low EF.

Longitudinal Follow-up of Patients With Tracheobronchomalacia After Undergoing Tracheobronchoplasty: Computed Tomography Findings and Clinical Correlation.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate intermediate and long-term changes in expiratory tracheal collapsibility by computed tomography (CT) in patients with tracheobronchomalacia following surgical treatment with tracheobronchoplasty and to correlate CT findings with clinical findings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between 2003 and 2016, 18 patients with tracheobronchomalacia underwent tracheobronchoplasty and were imaged preoperatively and postoperatively at both intermediate and long-term intervals. Imaging included end-inspiratory and dynamic expiratory phase scans. The cross-sectional area of the airway lumen was measured at 2 standard levels (1 cm above the aortic arch and carina). These measurements were used to calculate % collapsibility. Clinical findings recorded included a questionnaire on symptomatology and a 6-minute walk test. RESULTS: Before surgery, expiratory collapsibility of the upper trachea was 72%±25% (mean±SD) and that of the lower trachea was 68%±22%. On intermediate follow-up (mean, 1.5 y), collapsibility significantly decreased to 37%±21% at the upper trachea and 35%±19% at the lower trachea (P<0.001). On long-term follow-up (mean, 6 y), collapsibility increased to 51%±20% at the upper trachea and 47%±17% at the lower trachea and was significantly worse than on intermediate follow-up (P=0.002). However, collapsibility on long-term follow-up remained significantly lower than preoperative collapsibility (P=0.015). Clinical findings showed a similar trend as quantitative CT measurements. CONCLUSION: Expiratory tracheal collapsibility substantially decreases after tracheobronchoplasty on intermediate follow-up. At long-term follow-up, tracheal collapsibility shows a modest increase, but remains significantly lower than the preoperative baseline. Quantitative measurements from dynamic CT have the potential to play an important role as imaging biomarkers for assessing response to tracheobronchoplasty.

Frailty Characteristics Predict Respiratory Failure in Patients Undergoing Tracheobronchoplasty.

BACKGROUND: Respiratory complications are the leading cause of morbidity in patients undergoing tracheobronchoplasty, yet risk stratification systems on this population are insufficient. We investigated the association between frailty and risk of major respiratory complications after tracheobronchoplasty. METHODS: A retrospective review was made of 161 consecutive tracheobronchoplasties (October 2002 to September 2016). A frailty index was developed by the deficit-accumulation approach comprising 26 multidomain preoperative variables. The main outcome was a composite endpoint of major respiratory complications within 30 days of surgery. Odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were estimated using logistic regression. RESULTS: The cohort consisted of 103 women (64%), median age of 58 years (interquartile range, 51 to 66) and median FI of 0.25 (interquartile range, 0.1 to 0.3). Forty-eight patients (30%) had respiratory complications, the most common being respiratory failure (n = 27, 16.8%) and pneumonia (n = 25, 15.5%). Severe frailty (frailty index ≥0.33) was strongly associated with major respiratory complications (73.8% versus 2.5%; OR 58.8, 95% CI: 9.6 to 358.3). The association with severe frailty appeared stronger for respiratory failure (47.6% versus 2.5%; OR 30, 95% CI: 4.7 to 189.9) than for pneumonia (40.5% versus 0%; OR 35.2. 95% CI: 2.0 to 599.8). Further adjustment for intraoperative crystalloid volume or forced expiratory volume in 1 second moderately attenuated the association between frailty with major respiratory complications (OR 17.4. 95% CI: 2.0 to 150.8), respiratory failure (OR 13.1, 95% CI: 1.7 to 95.8), and pneumonia (OR 20.1, 95% CI: 1.1 to 341.8). CONCLUSIONS: Frailty, as indicated by frailty index, was associated with major respiratory complications, particularly respiratory failure after tracheobronchoplasty. Preoperative identification of frailty may help guide decision making for patients considering this effective, although arduous procedure.

Single-Center Experience of Tracheobronchoplasty for Tracheobronchomalacia: Perioperative Outcomes.

BACKGROUND: We present trends in practice as our experience has grown and report the postoperative morbidity and its associated factors after tracheobronchoplasty. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted of 161 patients who underwent tracheobronchoplasty from October 2002 to September 2016. The main outcome was development of a postoperative complication within 30 days of the operation. Postoperative complication events were graded using the Clavien-Dindo system. The study patients were divided into two consecutive cohorts to examine trends in systems of care. Postoperative morbidity was examined using a log-binomial regression model. RESULTS: The cohort consisted of 103 women (64%), with a median age of 58 years (interquartile range, 52 to 66 years). Postoperative morbidity occurred in 75 patients (47%). Severe complications (Clavien-Dindo grade ≥IIIa) occurred in 38 patients (24%), most of which were respiratory in nature, including 27 (17%) with respiratory failure. Median intensive care unit length of stay was 4 days (interquartile range, 3 to 5 days), with a total length of stay of 8 days (interquartile range, 6 to 11 days). In-hospital mortality occurred in 2 patients (1%). Discharge was directly to home in 68% of patients (37% without assistance and 31% with visiting nurse follow-up) and to a rehabilitation facility in 31%. After adjusting for age, sex, race, operative time, and intraoperative blood loss, forced expiratory volume in 1 second was an independent predictor (odds ratio, 0.97; 95% confidence interval, 0.95 to 0.99; p = 0.01) for postoperative morbidity. CONCLUSIONS: Despite an arduous hospital course with significant risk of severe complication, patients undergoing tracheobronchoplasty for severe tracheobronchomalacia have low risk of mortality and most are discharged directly to home.

Prophylactic use of alpha-1 adrenergic blocking agents for prevention of postoperative urinary retention: A review & meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.

BACKGROUND: Alpha-1 adrenergic blockers used to treat postoperative urinary retention (POUR) may also have a preventative role. Here we assess the evidence behind their prophylactic use on POUR prevention. STUDY DESIGN: PRISMA guidelines were followed. All studies reviewed for eligibility, data extraction, and risk of bias assessment. Pooled risk ratios with 95% confidence intervals calculated using a random effects model. Heterogeneity assessed using Forest plots, I2 statistic and Chi-squared Cochran's Q-statistic. RESULTS: Fifteen RCTs (1732 patients) included. Prophylactic alpha-1 adrenergic blockers significantly reduced risk of POUR, 13.16% vs 30.24%, RR = 0.48 (95%CI: 0.33; 0.70, p-value = .001), without a statistically significant increase in adverse events. Substantial heterogeneity found between included studies (I2 = 65.49% [95%CI:48.49; 95.01] & Q-statistic 43.46 (p-value<.001)). Subgroup analysis revealed strong risk reduction and little heterogeneity in males (RR:0.33, 95%CI:0.23; 0.47, p-value<.001, I2:10.58) and patients receiving spinal anesthesia (RR:0.26, 95%CI:0.14; 0.46, p-value<.0001, I2 = 0%). CONCLUSION: Prophylactic alpha-1 adrenergic blockers reduce risk of POUR in males and after spinal anesthesia.

Fatal Hemoptysis After Closure of Gastrobronchial Fistula Using an Amplatzer Vascular Device.

The Amplatzer family of vascular devices has been used off-label for the treatment of complex gastrointestinal and airway fistulas. We report a case in which closure of a benign gastrobronchial fistula with the use of an Amplatzer device resulted in massive hemoptysis and death.