Objective: To analyze the causes of benign central airway stenoses and to evaluate the efficacy of interventional treatments through flexible bronchoscopy.
Methods: Three hundred and eighty-six outpatients and inpatients with benign central airway stenoses in our hospital from January 1999 to December 2006 were retrospectively analyzed. Interventional treatments through flexible bronchoscopy were used to treat the benign central airway stenoses. The endoscopic interventional treatments included laser, electrocautery, argon plasma coagulation, cryotherapy, balloon dilation and stent insertion. Airway diameters, FEV1 and dyspnea index of patients were evaluated before and immediately after the last treatment procedure.
Results: The main causes of benign central airway stenoses were as follows: tuberculosis in 64.25% (248/386), secondary to prolonged orotracheal intubation or tracheotomy in 15.03% (58/386), injury in 3.63% (14/ 386) and inhalation burns in 3.11% (12/386), others were 54 cases. All the 386 patients received endoscopic interventional treatments. 89.89% (347/386) of the patients experienced improvement in dyspnea and cough. The average airway diameter increased from (2.49 +/- 1.57) mm to (6.41 +/- 1.70) mm (t = 47.427, P < 0.01). Dyspnea index decreased from 2.40 +/- 0.79 to 0.64 +/- 0.50 (t = 44.226, P < 0.01). The average value of FEV1 evaluated in 115 inpatients increased from (2.11 +/- 0.60) L to (3.46 +/- 0.75) L (t = 20.128, P < 0.01). Most patients needed multiple interventional treatments except 26 patients who received a single endoscopic treatment. Stable control of the diseases was achieved in 65.54% (253/ 386) patients 3 months after the last operation.
Conclusion: Tuberculosis is the most common cause of benign central airway stenoses in this series. Utilization of interventional methods through flexible bronchoscopy is effective in treating benign central airway stenoses.