Therapeutic bronchoscopy for malignant central airway obstruction: success rates and impact on dyspnea and quality of life.

ABSTRACT:

Background

There is significant variation between physicians in terms of how they perform therapeutic bronchoscopy, but there are few data on whether these differences impact effectiveness.

Methods

This was a multicenter registry study of patients undergoing therapeutic bronchoscopy for malignant central airway obstruction. The primary outcome was technical success, defined as reopening the airway lumen to > 50% of normal. Secondary outcomes were dyspnea as measured by the Borg score and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) as measured by the SF-6D.

Results

Fifteen centers performed 1,115 procedures on 947 patients. Technical success was achieved in 93% of procedures. Center success rates ranged from 90% to 98% (P = .02). Endobronchial obstruction and stent placemen

SUBMITTER: Ost DE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4420181 | biostudies-literature | 2015 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature