Interventional pulmonology techniques in lung transplantation.

Lung transplantation is a key therapeutic option for several end-stage lung diseases. Interventional pulmonology techniques, mostly bronchoscopy, play a key role throughout the whole path of lung transplantation, from donor evaluation to diagnosis and management of post-transplant complications. We carried out a non-systematic, narrative literature review aimed at describing the main indications, contraindications, performance characteristics and safety profile of interventional pulmonology techniques in the context of lung transplantation. We highlighted the role of bronchoscopy during donor evaluation and described the debated role of surveillance bronchoscopy (with bronchoalveolar lavage and transbronchial biopsy) to detect early rejection, infections and airways complications. The conventional (transbronchial forceps biopsy) and the new techniques (i.e. cryobiopsy, biopsy molecular assessment, probe-based confocal laser endomicroscopy) can detect and grade rejection. Several endoscopic techniques (e.g. balloon dilations, stent placement, ablative techniques) are employed in the management of airways complications (ischemia and necrosis, dehiscence, stenosis and malacia). First line pleural interventions (i.e. thoracentesis, chest tube insertion, indwelling pleural catheters) may be useful in the context of early and late pleural complications occurring after lung transplantation. High quality studies are advocated to define endoscopic standard protocols and thus help improving long-term prognostic outcomes of lung transplant recipients.

Prolonged higher dose methylprednisolone versus conventional dexamethasone in COVID-19 pneumonia: a randomised controlled trial (MEDEAS).

BACKGROUND: Dysregulated systemic inflammation is the primary driver of mortality in severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia. Current guidelines favour a 7-10-day course of any glucocorticoid equivalent to dexamethasone 6 mg daily. A comparative randomised controlled trial (RCT) with a higher dose and a longer duration of intervention was lacking. METHODS: We conducted a multicentre, open-label RCT to investigate methylprednisolone 80 mg as a continuous daily infusion for 8 days followed by slow tapering versus dexamethasone 6 mg once daily for up to 10 days in adult patients with COVID-19 pneumonia requiring oxygen or noninvasive respiratory support. The primary outcome was reduction in 28-day mortality. Secondary outcomes were mechanical ventilation-free days at 28 days, need for intensive care unit (ICU) referral, length of hospitalisation, need for tracheostomy, and changes in C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, arterial oxygen tension/inspiratory oxygen fraction (P aO2 /F IO2 ) ratio and World Health Organization Clinical Progression Scale at days 3, 7 and 14. RESULTS: 677 randomised patients were included. Findings are reported as methylprednisolone (n=337) versus dexamethasone (n=340). By day 28, there were no significant differences in mortality (35 (10.4%) versus 41 (12.1%); p=0.49) nor in median mechanical ventilation-free days (median (interquartile range (IQR)) 23 (14) versus 24 (16) days; p=0.49). ICU referral was necessary in 41 (12.2%) versus 45 (13.2%) (p=0.68) and tracheostomy in 8 (2.4%) versus 9 (2.6%) (p=0.82). Survivors in the methylprednisolone group required a longer median (IQR) hospitalisation (15 (11) versus 14 (11) days; p=0.005) and experienced an improvement in CRP levels, but not in P aO2 /F IO2 ratio, at days 7 and 14. There were no differences in disease progression at the prespecified time-points. CONCLUSION: Prolonged, higher dose methylprednisolone did not reduce mortality at 28 days compared with conventional dexamethasone in COVID-19 pneumonia.

Incidence of Tracheal Stenosis in ICU Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients: Results from a Prospective, Observational, Multicenter Study.

Background: Tracheal stenosis represents a fearsome complication that substantially impairs quality of life. The recent SARS-CoV-2 pandemic increased the number of patients requiring invasive ventilation through prolonged intubation or tracheostomy, increasing the risk of tracheal stenosis. Study design and methods: In this prospective, observational, multicenter study performed in Lombardy (Italy), we have exanimated 281 patients who underwent prolonged intubation (more than 7 days) or tracheostomy for severe COVID-19. Patients underwent CT scan and spirometry 2 months after hospital discharge and a subsequent clinical follow-up after an additional 6 months (overall 8 months of follow-up duration) to detect any tracheal lumen reduction above 1%. The last follow-up evaluation was completed on 31 August 2022. Results: In the study period, 24 patients (8.5%, CI 5.6-12.4) developed tracheal stenosis in a median time of 112 days and within a period of 200 days from intubation. Compared to patients without tracheal stenosis, tracheostomy was performed more frequently in patients that developed stenosis (75% vs 54%, p = 0.034). Tracheostomy and alcohol consumption (1 unit of alcohol per day) increased risk of developing tracheal stenosis of 2.6-fold (p = 0.047; IC 0.99-6.8) and 5.4-fold (p = 0.002; CI 1.9-16), respectively. Conclusions: In a large cohort of patients, the incidence of tracheal stenosis increased during pandemic, probably related to the increased use of prolonged intubation. Patients with histories of prolonged intubation should be monitored for at least 200 days from invasive ventilation in order to detect tracheal stenosis at early stage. Alcohol use and tracheostomy are risk factors for developing tracheal stenosis.