如同引起中央气道狭窄 (central airway obstruction, CAO) 的病因一样,其临床表现和预后多种多样。两种极端的预后都存在。引起呼吸窘迫的可治疗的病因,如异物吸入,一旦去除病因,预后极佳。相反,在慢性疾病患者的CAO,如严重慢阻肺或肺癌转移,虽然表现为局灶的可改善的气道阻塞,缓解治疗后预后仍不佳,因为CAO的治疗可能不会显著延长患者的生存期。
一项前瞻性研究显示,使用支气管镜治疗恶性和非恶性的中央气道阻塞 (CAO) 可显著改善呼吸肺活量测定值(即:FVC、FEV1)、生活质量和生存率。然而,在治疗性支气管镜操作后气道通畅性可能无法恢复的恶性 CAO 患者中,生存率较差。[120]Mahmood K, Wahidi MM, Thomas S, et al. Therapeutic bronchoscopy improves spirometry, quality of life, and survival in central airway obstruction. Respiration. 2015;89:404-413.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25925488?tool=bestpractice.com
恶性中央气道阻塞
根据大量病例资料显示,恶性气道阻塞是不能治愈的,治疗目标是缓解药物治疗或其他侵入性操作不能控制的症状(如呼吸困难,咳嗽,咯血)。[5]Kvale PA, Selecky PA, Prakash UB. Palliative care in lung cancer: ACCP evidence-based clinical practice guidelines (2nd edition). Chest. 2007;132(suppl 3):368S-403S.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17873181?tool=bestpractice.com患者和家属应该了解这些缓解治疗的本质。目前已知,不能治愈的恶性CAO的生存期非常短,约1-2个月。[121]Razi SS, Lebovics RS, Schwartz G, et al. Timely airway stenting improves survival in patients with malignant central airway obstruction. Ann Thorac Surg. 2010;90:1088-1093.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20868793?tool=bestpractice.com此外,患者的生活质量非常差,可能过世时处于窒息或机械通气支持状态。
与其他治疗策略相比,多模式治疗伴支架置入恶性气道阻塞,可以改善患者的生活质量。但是由于伦理学原因,此方面无安慰剂对照研究。一项前瞻性研究,针对进展期或复发性肺癌接受过激光烧蚀者,证实激光可以显著改善肺癌患者的生存质量。[122]Mantovani G, Astara G, Manca G, et al. Endoscopic laser ablation as palliative treatment of endobronchial, nonresectable, or recurrent lung cancer: assessment of its impact on quality of life. Clin Lung Cancer. 2000;1:277-285.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14733632?tool=bestpractice.com回顾性研究显示,支气管内采用激光或电烧蚀可以成功减轻51%-90%患者的症状。[1]Ernst A, Feller-Kopman D, Becker HD, et al. Central airway obstruction. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2004;169:1278-1297.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15187010?tool=bestpractice.com[15]Bolliger CT, Mathur PN, Beamis JF, et al. ERS/ATS statement on interventional pulmonology. European Respiratory Society. Eur Respir J. 2002;19:356-373.http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/19/2/356.fullhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11866017?tool=bestpractice.com[16]Folch E, Mehta AC. Airway interventions in the tracheobronchial tree. Semin Respir Crit Care Med. 2008;29:441-452.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18651361?tool=bestpractice.com[17]Bolliger CT, Sutedja TG, Strausz J, et al. Therapeutic bronchoscopy with immediate effect: laser, electrocautery, argon plasma coagulation and stents. Eur Respir J. 2006;27:1258-1271.http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/27/6/1258.fullhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16772389?tool=bestpractice.com[20]Seijo LM, Sterman DH. Interventional pulmonology. N Engl J Med. 2001;344:740-749.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11236779?tool=bestpractice.com[60]Simoff MJ, Sterman DH, Ernst A (eds). Thoracic endoscopy. Advances in interventional pulmonology. Malden, MA: Blackwell; 2006.[64]Ko-Pen W, Mehta AC, Turner JF. Flexible bronchoscopy. 2nd ed. Malden, MA: Blackwell; 2004.[65]Ernst A, Silvestri GA, Johnstone D. Interventional pulmonary procedures: guidelines from the American College of Chest Physicians. Chest. 2003;123:1693-1717.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12740291?tool=bestpractice.com两项回顾性研究显示,症状改善:低质量证据显示气道支架置入伴或不伴放射治疗可以明显改善体力状态差患者的症状。[121]Razi SS, Lebovics RS, Schwartz G, et al. Timely airway stenting improves survival in patients with malignant central airway obstruction. Ann Thorac Surg. 2010;90:1088-1093.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20868793?tool=bestpractice.com低质量的观察性(队列)研究或者受试者<200名且方法学存在缺陷的随机对照临床试验(RCT)。进展期肺癌患者进展性肺癌支架置入后的生存期:低质量证据显示,与体力状态差的对照组相比,中等体力状态患者进行气道支架置入改善了生存期(8个月 vs 3个月)。[121]Razi SS, Lebovics RS, Schwartz G, et al. Timely airway stenting improves survival in patients with malignant central airway obstruction. Ann Thorac Surg. 2010;90:1088-1093.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20868793?tool=bestpractice.com[123]Furukawa K, Ishida J, Yamaguchi G, et al. The role of airway stent placement in the management of tracheobronchial stenosis caused by inoperable advanced lung cancer. Surg Today. 2010;40:315-320.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20339985?tool=bestpractice.com低质量的观察性(队列)研究或者受试者<200名且方法学存在缺陷的随机对照临床试验(RCT)。气道支架置入可以改善症状,延长生存期。[121]Razi SS, Lebovics RS, Schwartz G, et al. Timely airway stenting improves survival in patients with malignant central airway obstruction. Ann Thorac Surg. 2010;90:1088-1093.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20868793?tool=bestpractice.com[123]Furukawa K, Ishida J, Yamaguchi G, et al. The role of airway stent placement in the management of tracheobronchial stenosis caused by inoperable advanced lung cancer. Surg Today. 2010;40:315-320.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20339985?tool=bestpractice.com另一项回顾性研究显示,恶性 CAO 患者,具有美国麻醉医师学会 (American Society of Anesthesiologists score) 的高评分、非鳞状细胞组织学检查结果、肿瘤转移的患者,以及既往无特殊治疗史的患者,其生存率降低。[124]Guibert N, Mazieres J, Lepage B, et al. Prognostic factors associated with interventional bronchoscopy in lung cancer. Ann Thorac Surg. 2014;97:253-259.http://www.annalsthoracicsurgery.org/article/S0003-4975%2813%2901813-4/fulltexthttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24094520?tool=bestpractice.com
来自美国胸科医师学会 (American College of Chest Physicians) 的治疗性支气管镜用于恶性 CAO 的多中心注册研究的一份报告显示,技术成功率非常高 (90%-98%)。最高的成功率与支架放置和支气管内梗阻相关。报告显示,呼吸困难有临床意义的改善为 48%,较重的基线呼吸困难与更有意义的改善相关。在健康相关生活质量方面,42% 发生有临床意义的改善;较重的基线呼吸困难还是与更好的结果相关。[125]Ost DE, Ernst A, Grosu HB, et al. Therapeutic bronchoscopy for malignant central airway obstruction: success rates and impact on dyspnea and quality of life. Chest. 2015;147:1282-1298.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25358019?tool=bestpractice.com
非恶性中央气道阻塞
预后与主要疾病,疾病程度和临床表现有关。一般来说,在大多数情况下,能治疗的疾病就是外科手术或内镜技术可治愈的。但是,一些非恶性情况(如复发性多软骨炎,气管支气管乳头瘤病)可反复发作,并导致高致残率。
气管扩张和激光消融治疗可以一过性减轻症状。硅酮支架置入可作为外科手术前的过渡,或治疗不能接受外科手术的患者。外科切除是针对有手术适应证的气道狭窄患者的明确治疗。如果遵循常规原则,不需要反复内镜下治疗就应该手术治疗。但是,成功的内镜下治疗可能避免外科手术相关的并发症和不适感,尤其是对于合并心肺疾病或其他重要伴随疾病的患者。对于经验丰富的支气管镜医生,内镜下介入治疗并不影响未来可能需要进行的外科手术。