Bronchoscopic management of malignant airway obstruction

Adv Ther. 2014 May;31(5):512-38. doi: 10.1007/s12325-014-0122-z. Epub 2014 May 22.

Abstract

Approximately one-third of patients with lung cancer will develop airway obstruction and many cancers lead to airway obstruction through meta stases. The treatment of malignant airway obstruction is often a multimodality approach and is usually performed for palliation of symptoms in advanced lung cancer. Removal of airway obstruction is associated with improvement in symptoms, quality of life, and lung function. Patient selection should exclude patients with short life expectancy, limited symptoms, and an inability to visualize beyond the obstruction. This review outlines both the immediate and delayed bronchoscopic effect options for the removal of airway obstruction and preservation of airway patency with endobronchial stenting.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Airway Obstruction* / etiology
  • Airway Obstruction* / therapy
  • Argon Plasma Coagulation / methods
  • Brachytherapy / methods
  • Bronchoscopy / methods*
  • Disease Management
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms* / complications
  • Lung Neoplasms* / pathology
  • Lung Neoplasms* / psychology
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Outcome Assessment, Health Care
  • Palliative Care / methods
  • Patient Selection
  • Photochemotherapy / methods
  • Quality of Life