American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine Vol 169. pp. 1278-1297, (2004)
© 2004 American Thoracic Society
Central Airway Obstruction
Armin Ernst,
David Feller-Kopman,
Heinrich D. Becker and
Atul C. Mehta
Pulmonary and Critical Care Division, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Interdisciplinary Endoscopy, Thoraxklinik, Heidelberg, Germany; Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio
Correspondence and requests for reprints should be addressed to Armin Ernst, M.D., Director, Interventional Pulmonology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, 330 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215. E-mail: Aernst{at}caregroup.harvard.edu
Central airway obstruction is a problem facing all medical and surgical subspecialists caring for patients with chest diseases. The incidence of this disorder appears to be rising because of the epidemic of lung cancer; however, benign causes of central airway obstruction are being seen more frequently as well. The morbidity is significant and if left untreated, death from suffocation is a frequent outcome. Management of these patients is difficult, but therapeutic and diagnostic tools are now available that are beneficial to most patients and almost all airway obstruction can be relieved expeditiously. This review examines current approaches in the workup and treatment of patients suffering from airway impairment. Although large, randomized, comparative studies are not available, data show significant improvement in patient outcomes and quality of life with treatment of central airway obstruction. Clearly, more studies assessing the relative utility of specific airway interventions and their impact on morbidity and mortality are needed. Currently, the most comprehensive approach can be offered at centers with expertise in the management of complex airway disorders and availability of all endoscopic and surgical options.
Key Words: bronchoscopy • central airway obstruction • stenting • tumor destruction
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
|
|
 
M. Nishimura
Application of Three-Dimensional Airway Algorithms in a Clinical Study
Proceedings of the ATS,
December 15, 2008;
5(9):
910 - 914.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
C. Reddy, A. Majid, G. Michaud, D. Feller-Kopman, R. Eberhardt, F. Herth, and A. Ernst
Gas Embolism Following Bronchoscopic Argon Plasma Coagulation: A Case Series
Chest,
November 1, 2008;
134(5):
1066 - 1069.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
V. Dialani, A. Ernst, M. Sun, K. S. Lee, D. Feller-Kopman, D. Litmanovich, A. Bankier, and P. M. Boiselle
MDCT Detection of Airway Stent Complications: Comparison with Bronchoscopy
Am. J. Roentgenol.,
November 1, 2008;
191(5):
1576 - 1580.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
D. Feller-Kopman, J. M. Lukanich, G. Shapira, U. Kolodny, B. Schori, H. Edenfield, B. Temelkuran, A. Ernst, Y. Schindel, Y. Fink, et al.
Gas Flow During Bronchoscopic Ablation Therapy Causes Gas Emboli to the Heart: A Comparative Animal Study
Chest,
April 1, 2008;
133(4):
892 - 896.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
S. D. Murgu and H. G. Colt
Complications of Silicone Stent Insertion in Patients With Expiratory Central Airway Collapse
Ann. Thorac. Surg.,
December 1, 2007;
84(6):
1870 - 1877.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
P. A. Kvale, P. A. Selecky, and U. B. S. Prakash
Palliative Care in Lung Cancer: ACCP Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guidelines (2nd Edition)
Chest,
September 1, 2007;
132(3_suppl):
368S - 403S.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
H. C. Chew, S.-Y. Low, P. Eng, T. Agasthian, and F. K. Cheah
Cough and Persistent Wheeze in a Patient With Long-Standing Asthma
Chest,
August 1, 2007;
132(2):
727 - 731.
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. M. Wahidi, F. J. F. Herth, and A. Ernst
State of the Art: Interventional Pulmonology
Chest,
January 1, 2007;
131(1):
261 - 274.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. Ernst and S. Ashiku
Tracheal transplantation: are we any closer to the holy grail of airway management?
Chest,
November 1, 2006;
130(5):
1299 - 1300.
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
D. Feller-Kopman, R. Bechara, R. Garland, A. Ernst, and S. Ashiku
Use of a removable endobronchial valve for the treatment of bronchopleural fistula.
Chest,
July 1, 2006;
130(1):
273 - 275.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. Hasegawa, Y. Nasuhara, Y. Onodera, H. Makita, K. Nagai, S. Fuke, Y. Ito, T. Betsuyaku, and M. Nishimura
Airflow Limitation and Airway Dimensions in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med.,
June 15, 2006;
173(12):
1309 - 1315.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
W. Lunn, D. Feller-Kopman, M. Wahidi, S. Ashiku, R. Thurer, and A. Ernst
Endoscopic Removal of Metallic Airway Stents
Chest,
June 1, 2005;
127(6):
2106 - 2112.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
L. Fabbri, S. P. Peters, I. Pavord, S. E. Wenzel, S. C. Lazarus, W. MacNee, F. Lemaire, and E. Abraham
Allergic Rhinitis, Asthma, Airway Biology, and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in AJRCCM in 2004
Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med.,
April 1, 2005;
171(7):
686 - 698.
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. J. Tobin
Assessing the Performance of a Medical Journal
Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med.,
June 15, 2004;
169(12):
1268 - 1272.
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
Copyright © 2004 American Thoracic Society
|
|
|
