Endobronchial tuberculosis in children: Defining the role of interventional bronchoscopy.

INTRODUCTION: Endobronchial tuberculosis (EBTB) can lead to bronchopulmonary complications when diagnosis is delayed. Bronchoscopic treatment in children can be challenging due to small airway size. We report our experience treating children with EBTB. METHODS: Retrospective study (2014-2020) of patients diagnosed with EBTB. Flexible bronchoscopy (FB) was performed in patients with previous diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB), after respiratory/radiological worsening was observed in spite of medical treatment. Treatment consisted in oral corticotherapy in all patients, and interventional bronchoscopy in selected cases. Our aim is to describe the endoscopic findings, interventional bronchoscopy alternatives, and outcome. RESULTS: Of 45 patients with PTB, 13 (28.9%, 7 M/6 F) were diagnosed with EBTB, with a mean age of 3.9 years (0.4-12.8). Four bronchoscopic patterns were observed. Endobronchial granuloma (N:9; 69.2%): Excision with rigid bronchoscopy was achieved in five (1-5 procedures per patient), while corticotherapy alone was preferred in the remaining four due to small size/distal location of the granuloma. Caseum obstruction (2; 15.4%): dense mucous molds were removed with flexible/rigid bronchoscopy (6 and 8 procedures, respectively). Bronchial stenosis (1; 7.7%): two balloon dilatations with mitomycin-C application were performed. Extrinsic compression (1; 7.7%): oral corticotherapy alone was initiated. One patient developed bronchoscopy-related complications (pneumothorax requiring thoracic tube 48 h). With a medium follow-up of 4.6 years (1.8-7.6), three patients developed bronchiectasis while the remaining 10 improved clinically and radiologically. CONCLUSION: Bronchoscopic findings in EBTB include granuloma, stenosis, caseum obstruction and external compression. In selected cases, interventional bronchoscopy can minimize long-term bronchopulmonary complications.

[Medium-term results of the endourological management with balloon dilatation of the ureteropelvic junction stenosis in infants]. / Resultados a medio plazo del tratamiento endourológico retrógrado con balón de la estenosis pieloureteral en niños menores de 1 año.

AIM: In the last years it has spread minimally invasive therapeutic for the treatment of pyeloureteral junction obstruction in children. Some of them have got poor outcomes in 4-year-old minor children. We show our experience in the retrograde dilatation with balloon of high pressure in infants. METHODS: It's a retrospective study of 16 infants treated in our hospital. The average follow-up after the intervention is 27.4 +/- 10.0 months. The diagnostic protocol included abdominal ultrasound, cystogram and diuretic renography. The treatment was realized by endourology retrograde balloon dilatation under fluoroscopy. The balloons were in all the cases semicompliant, with a profile of 5 mm, 6 mm 6 7 mm. After the expansion there was placed stents type double J with profile and length depending on the weight of the patient. To obtain the results, we do ultrasound scans and diuretic renography at least 1 year after the intervention. RESULTS: The mean duration of the intervention was 36.4 +/- 15.5 minutes. During the intervention, in 2 patients the placement of the stent was not possible. The time of revenue was 48 hours in all the patients except in 1 of them. The analgesic needs were exclusively non steroid antiinflammatorys. The double J stent was withdrawn with cystoscopy. In 3 patients there were postoperatory complications: a migration of the stent, a urinary infection and an urinoma. In 1 patient with worsening of hydronephrosis was needed of pyeloplasty. In the controls the disappearance of the hydronephrosis was observed in all the cases, eliminating likewise the expansion of the renal calyces. The diuretic renography improved in all babies, being the boss of the curve normal in 14 cases and semi obstructively in 2. The mean time of elimination was 9.8 +/- 2.8 minutes. CONCLUSIONS: We think that the balloon dilatation of pyeloureteral junction obstruction is a minimally aggressive technique that is possible to realize in infants with good results and scanty complications.