Abstract
Background: The efficacy of the use of the interventional bronchoscope for palliation of patients with central airway obstruction has been established. In the palliative setting to alleviate central airway obstruction, the use of laser resection, electrocautery, argon plasma coagulation, photodynamic therapy and cryotherapy can provide relief of an airway obstruction. Cryotherapy is the therapeutic application of extreme cold for the local destruction of living tissue. Recently, this technique has been used for endoscopic management of central airway obstructions in Korea. We report the role and complications of the use of cryotherapy for airway obstructions in patients with advanced lung cancer. Methods: We used a flexible cryoprobe for cryotherapy using nitrous oxide as a cryogen. The cryoprobe was applied through the working channel of a flexible fiberoptic bronchoscope. The temperature of the tip was approximately $-89^{\circ}C$, and the icing time was 5~20 seconds. Results: Four patients with a central airway obstruction from advanced lung cancer were treated with cryotherapy. Three of the four patients were treated successfully and the airway obstruction was improved after the cryotherapy procedure. Dyspnea, hypoxia and atelectais were improved in three cases. Two patients experienced complications- one patient experienced pneumomediastinum and the other patient experienced massive hemoptysis during the cryotherapy procedure. However, these complications resolved and did not influence mortality. Conclusion: This technique is effective and relatively safe for palliation of inoperable advanced lung cancer with a central airway obstruction.
연구배경: 중심성 기도폐쇄를 동반하는 진행성 폐암환자에서 기도폐쇄를 호전시키기 위해 다양한 중재적 시술 Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases Vol. 64. No. 4, Apr. 2008277방법들이 시도되고 있으며, 이러한 시술방법 중 최근 굴절성 cryoprobe를 이용한 냉동치료가 국내에서도 시도되고 있다. 방법: 냉동치료 기계는 cryomachine과 cryoprobe로 구성되며, 냉매로는 아산화질소(N2O)를 사용하였다. 굴곡경 기관지내시경의 working chanel을 통해 굴절성 cryoprobe를 악성종양의 중심에 위치한 후 급속 냉동($-89^{\circ}C$)하여 악성 종양 조직을 냉동 시킨 후 stalk을 puling하여 제거하거나 급속 냉동과 해동 과정을 반복하였다. 결과: 중심성 기도폐쇄가 발생한 진행성 폐암 환자 4명에게 냉동치료를 시술하였다. 3명의 환자에서 성공적으로 기도폐쇄를 유발하는 종양을 제거하였으며, 그 후 호흡곤란 및 무기폐 소견이 호전되었다. 1명의 환자에서 기관지 천공으로 인한 종격동 기종이 발생하였으며 또 다른 환자에서 냉동치료 도중 대량 출혈이 발생하였으나 응급 조치 후 다시 회복되었다.
