Veno-venous extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation in complex tracheobronchial resection.

Background: Elective extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is rarely used in thoracic surgery, apart from lung transplantation. The purpose of this study was to summarize our institutional experience with the intraoperative use of veno-venous (VV) ECMO in selected cases of main airway surgery. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the data of 10 patients who underwent main airway surgery with the support of VV-ECMO between June 2013 and August 2022. Results: Surgical procedures included: three carinal resection and reconstruction with complete preservation of the lung parenchyma, one right upper double-sleeve lobectomy and hemi-carinal resection, and one sleeve resection of the left main bronchus after previous right lower bilobectomy, for thoracic malignancies; four tracheal/carinal repair for extensive traumatic laceration; one extended tracheal resection due to post-tracheostomy stenosis in a patient who had previously undergone a left pneumonectomy. The median intraoperative VV-ECMO use was 162.5 minutes. In three cases with complex resection and reconstruction of the carina and in one case of extended post-tracheostomy stenosis and previous pneumonectomy, high-flow VV-ECMO allowed interruption of ventilation for almost 3 hours. In four patients, VV-ECMO was prolonged in the postoperative period to ensure early extubation. There were no perioperative deaths, no complications related to the use of ECMO and no intraoperative change in the planned type of ECMO. Significant complications occurred only in one patient who developed a small anastomotic dehiscence that led to stenosis and required placement of a Montgomery tube. At the median follow-up of 30 months, all 10 patients were still alive. Conclusions: The use of intraoperative VV-ECMO allows safe and precise performance of main airway surgery with minimal postoperative morbidity in patients requiring complex resections and reconstructions and in cases that cannot be managed with conventional ventilation techniques.

Identifying barriers to care for complex airway disease and multidisciplinary solutions to optimize therapy in Canada.

BACKGROUND: Complex airway disease such as Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Asthma or Aspirin Exacerbated Respiratory Disease requires a multidisciplinary approach to management and treatment. Many centers in the USA have created collaborative multidisciplinary clinics to support the management of these patients; however, similar structures do not appear to exist in Canada. METHODS: This mixed methods study used a combination of structured interviews and a cross-sectional national survey. Interviewees included members of the Canadian Rhinology Working Group and survey participants were a combination of academic and community Rhinologists, Respirologists and Allergists. All participation was voluntary and selection criteria was based on their involvement in treating complex airway disease. Our objective was to identify the current state of diagnosis and treatment of complex airway patients in Canada between Rhinology, Respirology and Allergy and understand the barriers, challenges and propose solutions to establishing a multidisciplinary airway clinic in Canada. RESULTS: Four Rhinologists participated in qualitative interviews and a convenience sample of 42 specialists through our known network responded to our quantitative survey. From our survey, 54.8% believed multidisciplinary clinics were necessary in the management of complex airway disease, providing better outcomes and cost-savings (69%, 45.2%). Most specialties agreed that history, physical, pulmonary function and skin prick testing was important for diagnosis (92.9%, 92.9%, 88.1%). If clinicians were to participate in a multidisciplinary clinic, they would be willing to forego an average of 14.2% of their mean daily income for that clinic. The ideal clinic location was split between a neutral shared location vs. a Rhinology clinic space (38.1%, 45.2%). CONCLUSIONS: Complex airway diseases are currently managed in subspecialty silos resulting in fragmented care. Our study highlights gaps in management, areas for improvement and support for establishing multidisciplinary complex airway disease clinics in Canada to better treat this population.

[Use of Hybrid Stent in Management of Complex Malignant Airway Stenosisand Fistulas].

BACKGROUND: Airway stents has been widely used in airway stenosis and fistula, yet clinical date of airway stents in reestablishment a complex airway is insufficient. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety to combine the silicon stent and the metal stent in reestablishment a complex malignant airway. METHODS: Patients with non-operable complex malignant airway stenosis and fistula were recruited in this study. Silicon Y stent combined with covered metal stent (Hybrid stent) were inserted to reestablishment the airway. Clinical outcomes and complications were observed over six months. RESULTS: A total of 23 silicon Y stents and 25 covered metal stents were inserted in 23 patients. Nineteen of 23 (19/23, 82.6%) patients felt a immediately relieving of current symptoms. The mean duration of stents placement in patients was (153.43±9.14) days. The modified British Medical Research Council, Karnofsky Performance Status and Performance Status scale were improved significantly after stenting. A total of 12 patients living with stent at 6 months. Others dead of tumor progression. There were no death or immediate complications related to hybrid stenting implication. CONCLUSIONS: Hybrid stenting proved to be useful and was well-tolerated in the management of complex malignant airway stenosis and fistula.

Use of Hybrid Stent in Management of Complex Malignant Airway Stenosisand Fistulas / 中国肺癌杂志

BACKGROUND@#Airway stents has been widely used in airway stenosis and fistula, yet clinical date of airway stents in reestablishment a complex airway is insufficient. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety to combine the silicon stent and the metal stent in reestablishment a complex malignant airway.@*METHODS@#Patients with non-operable complex malignant airway stenosis and fistula were recruited in this study. Silicon Y stent combined with covered metal stent (Hybrid stent) were inserted to reestablishment the airway. Clinical outcomes and complications were observed over six months.@*RESULTS@#A total of 23 silicon Y stents and 25 covered metal stents were inserted in 23 patients. Nineteen of 23 (19/23, 82.6%) patients felt a immediately relieving of current symptoms. The mean duration of stents placement in patients was (153.43±9.14) days. The modified British Medical Research Council, Karnofsky Performance Status and Performance Status scale were improved significantly after stenting. A total of 12 patients living with stent at 6 months. Others dead of tumor progression. There were no death or immediate complications related to hybrid stenting implication.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Hybrid stenting proved to be useful and was well-tolerated in the management of complex malignant airway stenosis and fistula.

Multidimensional assessment of severe asthma: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

The management of severe asthma is complex. Multidimensional assessment (MDA) of specific traits has been proposed as an effective strategy to manage severe asthma, although it is supported by few prospective studies. We aimed to systematically review the literature published on MDA in severe asthma, to identify the traits included in MDA and to determine the effect of MDA on asthma-related outcomes. We identified 26 studies and classified these based on study type (cohort/cross-sectional studies; experimental/outcome studies; and severe asthma disease registries). Study type determined the comprehensiveness of the assessment. Assessed traits were classified into three domains (airways, co-morbidities and risk factors). The airway domain had the largest number of traits assessed (mean ± SD = 4.2 ± 1.7) compared with co-morbidities (3.6 ± 2.2) and risk factors (3.9 ± 2.1). Bronchodilator reversibility and airflow limitation were assessed in 92% of studies, whereas airway inflammation was only assessed in 50%. Commonly assessed co-morbidities were psychological dysfunction, sinusitis (both 73%) and gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD; 69%). Atopic and smoking statuses were the most commonly assessed risk factors (85% and 86%, respectively). There were six outcome studies, of which five concluded that MDA is effective at improving asthma-related outcomes. Among these studies, significantly more traits were assessed than treated. MDA studies have assessed a variety of different traits and have shown evidence of improved outcomes. This promising model of care requires more research to inform which traits should be assessed, which traits should be treated and what effect MDA has on patient outcomes.