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European Respiratory Review : An... Dec 2020Tracheo-oesophageal fistula (TOF) is a pathological connection between the trachea and the oesophagus that is associated with various underlying conditions including... (Review)
Review
Tracheo-oesophageal fistula (TOF) is a pathological connection between the trachea and the oesophagus that is associated with various underlying conditions including malignancies, infections, inhalation injuries and traumatic damage. As the condition spans multiple organ systems with varying aetiologies and acuities, TOF poses unique diagnostic and management challenges to pulmonologists, gastroenterologists and thoracic surgeons alike. Although stents have been a cornerstone in the management of TOF, there exists a large gap in our understanding of their efficacy and precise methodology, making stenting procedure both art and science. TOFs relating to underlying oesophageal or tracheal malignancies require advanced understanding of the airway and digestive tract anatomy, dimensions of the fistula, stent characteristics and types, and the interplay between the oesophageal stent and the airway stent if dual stenting procedure is elected. In this review article, we review the most up-to-date data on risk factors, clinical manifestations, diagnostic approaches, management methods and prognosis. Consequently, this article serves to evaluate current therapeutic strategies and the future directions in the areas of 3D-printed stents, over-the-scope clipping systems, tissue matrices and atrial septal closure devices.
Topics: Adult; Humans; Prognosis; Stents; Trachea; Tracheoesophageal Fistula
PubMed: 33153989
DOI: 10.1183/16000617.0094-2020 -
Chest Aug 2017Alveolar-pleural fistulas causing persistent air leaks (PALs) are associated with prolonged hospital stays and high morbidity. Prior guidelines recommend surgical repair... (Review)
Review
Alveolar-pleural fistulas causing persistent air leaks (PALs) are associated with prolonged hospital stays and high morbidity. Prior guidelines recommend surgical repair as the gold standard for treatment, albeit it is a solution with limited success. In patients who have recently undergone thoracic surgery or in whom surgery would be contraindicated based on the severity of illness, there has been a lack of treatment options. This review describes a brief history of treatment guidelines for PALs. In the past 20 years, newer and less invasive treatment options have been developed. Aside from supportive care, the literature includes anecdotal successful reports using fibrin sealants, ethanol injection, metal coils, and Watanabe spigots. More recently, larger studies have demonstrated success with chemical pleurodesis, autologous blood patch pleurodesis, and endobronchial valves. This manuscript describes these treatment options in detail, including postprocedural adverse events. Further research, including randomized controlled trials with comparison of these options, are needed, as is long-term follow-up for these interventions.
Topics: Air; Chest Tubes; Chronic Disease; Female; Humans; Lung Diseases; Male; Pleural Diseases; Pleurodesis; Pneumothorax; Practice Guidelines as Topic; Respiratory Tract Fistula; Risk Factors; Sex Factors
PubMed: 28267436
DOI: 10.1016/j.chest.2017.02.020 -
Therapeutic Advances in Respiratory... 2023Bronchopleural fistula is a potentially fatal disease most often caused after pneumonectomy. Concomitant problems such as pulmonary infection and respiratory failure are... (Review)
Review
Bronchopleural fistula is a potentially fatal disease most often caused after pneumonectomy. Concomitant problems such as pulmonary infection and respiratory failure are typically the main contributors to patient mortality because of the improper contact between the bronchial and pleural cavity. Therefore, bronchopleural fistulas need immediate treatment, which requires the accurate location and timely closure of the fistula. Currently, bronchoscopic interventions, because of their flexibility and versatility, are reliable alternative therapies in patients for whom surgical intervention is unsuitable. Possible interventions include bronchoscopic placement of blocking agents, atrial septal defect (ASD)/ventricular septal defect (VSD) occluders, airway stents, endobronchial valves (EBVs) and endobronchial Watanabe spigots (EWSs). Recent developments in mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) transplantation technology and three-dimensional (3D) printed stents have also contributed to the treatment of bronchopleural fistula, but more research is needed to investigate the long-term benefits. This review focuses on the effectiveness of various bronchoscopic measures for the treatment of bronchopleural fistula and the directions for future development.
Topics: Humans; Bronchoscopy; Postoperative Complications; Pleural Diseases; Bronchial Fistula; Pneumonia; Pneumonectomy
PubMed: 37067054
DOI: 10.1177/17534666231164541 -
Journal of Vascular Surgery. Venous and... Mar 2024
Topics: Humans; Arteriovenous Fistula; Pulmonary Veins; Pulmonary Artery
PubMed: 37972756
DOI: 10.1016/j.jvsv.2023.101717 -
Korean Journal of Radiology Feb 2022Pulmonary arteriovenous malformation (AVM) is a congenital vascular disease in which interventional radiologists can play both diagnostic and therapeutic roles in... (Review)
Review
Pulmonary arteriovenous malformation (AVM) is a congenital vascular disease in which interventional radiologists can play both diagnostic and therapeutic roles in patient management. The diagnosis of pulmonary AVM is simple and can usually be made based on CT images. Endovascular treatment, that is, selective embolization of the pulmonary artery feeding the nidus of the pulmonary AVM, and/or selectively either the nidus or draining vein, has become a first-line treatment with advances in interventional devices. However, some vascular diseases can simulate pulmonary AVMs on CT and pulmonary angiography. This subset can confuse interventional radiologists and referring physicians. Vascular mimickers of pulmonary AVM have not been widely known and described in detail in the literature, although some of these require surgical correction, while others require regular follow-up. This article reviews the clinical and radiologic features of pulmonary AVMs and their mimickers.
Topics: Arteriovenous Fistula; Embolization, Therapeutic; Humans; Intracranial Arteriovenous Malformations; Pulmonary Artery; Pulmonary Veins
PubMed: 35029077
DOI: 10.3348/kjr.2021.0417 -
Chest May 2023Pulmonary arteriovenous malformations (PAVMs) are rare and most often identified in patients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT). We describe a patient with...
Pulmonary arteriovenous malformations (PAVMs) are rare and most often identified in patients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT). We describe a patient with severe hypoxemia and orthodeoxia with imaging findings consistent with PAVMs. Resected lung pathologic findings confirmed the presence of numerous microscopic vascular abnormalities within the right lower lobe that was consistent with diffuse pulmonary arteriovenous shunts. Family history was negative for HHT but was positive for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in two second-degree relatives. A vascular malformation gene panel was negative for genes that commonly are associated with HHT but identified a pathogenic variant in the gene encoding bone morphogenetic protein receptor-2 (BMPR2 p.Cys123∗). Pathogenic variants in BMPR2 are a well-known cause of hereditary PAH; there have been several reports to date of patients with PAVMs and PAH. However, this is the first patient to be reported with a pathogenic variant in BMPR2 to have PAVMs in isolation.
Topics: Humans; Arteriovenous Malformations; Telangiectasia, Hereditary Hemorrhagic; Lung; Arteriovenous Fistula; Pulmonary Veins; Pulmonary Artery; Familial Primary Pulmonary Hypertension; Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
PubMed: 37164583
DOI: 10.1016/j.chest.2023.01.020 -
Respirology (Carlton, Vic.) Aug 2022Interventional radiology (IR) is a rapidly expanding medical subspecialty and refers to a range of image-guided procedural techniques. The image guidance allows... (Review)
Review
Interventional radiology (IR) is a rapidly expanding medical subspecialty and refers to a range of image-guided procedural techniques. The image guidance allows real-time visualization and precision placement of a needle, catheter, wire and device to deep body structures through small incisions. Advantages include reduced risks, faster recovery and shorter hospital stays, lower costs and less patient discomfort. The range of chest interventional procedures keeps on expanding due to improved imaging facilities, better percutaneous assess devices and advancing ablation and embolization techniques. These advances permit procedures to be undertaken safely, simultaneously and effectively, hence escalating the role of IR in the treatment of chest disorders. This review article aims to cover the latest developments in some image-guided techniques of the chest, including thermal ablation therapy of lung malignancy, targeted therapy of pulmonary embolism, angioplasty and stenting of mediastinal venous/superior vena cava occlusion, pulmonary arteriovenous malformation treatment and bronchial artery embolization for haemoptysis.
Topics: Arteriovenous Fistula; Embolization, Therapeutic; Humans; Pulmonary Artery; Stents; Vena Cava, Superior
PubMed: 35758539
DOI: 10.1111/resp.14315 -
Respiratory Medicine Apr 2018A persistent air leak (PAL) can be caused by either an alveolar-pleural fistula (APF) or bronchopleural fistula (BPF). Complications from PAL lead to an increase in... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study Review
A persistent air leak (PAL) can be caused by either an alveolar-pleural fistula (APF) or bronchopleural fistula (BPF). Complications from PAL lead to an increase in morbidity and mortality, prolonged hospital stay, and higher resource utilization. Pulmonary physicians and thoracic surgeons are often tasked with the difficult and often times frustrating diagnosis and management of PALs. While most patients will improve with chest tube thoracostomy, many will fail requiring alternative bronchoscopic or surgical strategies. Herein, we review the bronchoscopic and surgical diagnostic and treatment options for PAL as it pertains to the field of interventional pulmonology and thoracic surgery.
Topics: Bronchial Fistula; Bronchoscopy; Chest Tubes; Fistula; Humans; Length of Stay; Pleural Diseases; Pleurodesis; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Septal Occluder Device; Thoracostomy
PubMed: 29605207
DOI: 10.1016/j.rmed.2018.03.017 -
Respiratory Medicine Dec 2015Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) accounts for majority of all primary renal neoplasms. Classic manifestations of RCC include the triad of flank pain, hematuria and a palpable... (Review)
Review
Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) accounts for majority of all primary renal neoplasms. Classic manifestations of RCC include the triad of flank pain, hematuria and a palpable renal mass. Patients with RCC can develop various extra renal manifestations including involvements of the lungs, inferior vena cava, liver and the bones. The pulmonary manifestations of renal cell carcinoma include metastatic disease including endobronchial, pleural, parenchymal or lymph node metastasis, pleural effusion or hemothorax. Pulmonary embolism and tumor embolism is another common manifestation of renal cell carcinoma. RCC is a highly vascular tumor and can cause pulmonary arterio-venous fistulas leading to high output failure. Rarely, RCC can also present with paraneoplastic presentations including cough or bilateral diaphragm paralysis. Drugs used to treat RCC have been associated with drug related pneumonitis and form an important differential diagnosis in patients with RCC on therapy presenting with shortness of breath. In this review we discuss the various pulmonary manifestations of RCC. A high index of suspicion with these presentations can lead to an early diagnosis and assist in instituting an appropriate intervention.
Topics: Antineoplastic Agents; Carcinoma, Renal Cell; Humans; Kidney Neoplasms; Lung Neoplasms; Neoplastic Cells, Circulating; Pleural Effusion; Pneumonia; Pulmonary Embolism; Respiratory Tract Fistula; Sarcoidosis, Pulmonary
PubMed: 26525375
DOI: 10.1016/j.rmed.2015.10.002 -
Heart & Lung : the Journal of Critical... 2020Aorto-cardiac fistulae are a rare but increasingly reported entity, and data are scarce. (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Aorto-cardiac fistulae are a rare but increasingly reported entity, and data are scarce.
METHOD
The authors performed a systematic review of ACFs to characterize the underlying etiology, clinical presentation, and compare outcomes of treatment strategies.
RESULTS
3,733 publications were identified in the search. Of those, 292 studies including 300 patients were included. Etiology of ACFs was 38% iatrogenic, 25% infectious, 14% traumatic, and 15% due to other causes. Most patients (74%) presented with heart failure. Common locations were aortic-right atrium (37%), and aortic-pulmonary artery (25%). The majority of patients (71%) were treated surgically, while 13% were treated percutaneously, and 16% were treated conservatively. Patients who were managed conservatively had a higher mortality than those treated with invasive closure (53% vs. 12% vs. 3%, p = <0.00001).
CONCLUSIONS
This systematic review sheds light on this highly morbid condition. Once recognized, fistula closure appears to be superior to conservative management.
Topics: Aortic Diseases; Fistula; Heart Atria; Humans; Pulmonary Artery; Vascular Fistula
PubMed: 31735456
DOI: 10.1016/j.hrtlng.2019.11.002