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Background and Objective: Little is known about malignant central airway obstruction (MCAO) complicating the metastatic spread of non‐bronchogenic solid cancers (NBC) and their bronchoscopic management. This study aimed to describe the epidemiology of this population and determine prognostic factors before therapeutic bronchoscopy (TB). Methods: In this multicenter study using the EpiGETIF registry, we analysed patients treated with TB for MCAO caused by NBC between January 2019 and December 2022. Results: From a database of 2389 patients, 436 patients (18%) with MCAO and NBC were identified. After excluding patients with direct local invasion, 214 patients (8.9%) were analysed. The main primaries involved were kidney (17.8%), colon (16.4%), sarcoma (15.4%), thyroid (8.9%) and head and neck (7.9%) cancers. Most patients (63.8%) had already received one or more lines of systemic treatment. Obstructions were purely intrinsic in 58.2%, extrinsic in 11.1% and mixed in 30.8%. Mechanical debulking was used in 73.4% of cases, combined with thermal techniques in 25.6% of cases. Airway stenting was required in 38.4% of patients. Median survival after TB was 11.2 months, influenced by histology (p = 0.002), performance status (p = 0.019), initial hypoxia (HR 1.45 [1.01–2.18]), prior oncologic treatment received (HR 1.82 [1.28–2.56], p < 0.001) and assessment of success at the end of the procedure (HR 0.66 [0.44–0.99], p < 0.001). Complications rate was 8.8%, mostly mild, with no procedure‐related mortality. Conclusion: TB for MCAO caused by a NBC metastasis provides rapid improvement of symptoms and prolonged survival. Patients should be promptly referred by medical oncologists for bronchoscopic management based on the prognostic factors identified. Therapeutic bronchoscopy for central airway obstructions caused by non‐bronchogenic cancers provides rapid improvement of symptoms. Median survival after TB (11.2 months) is influenced by histology, performance status, initial hypoxia, prior oncologic treatment received and immediate success of the procedure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article examines the effectiveness of therapeutic bronchoscopy in treating acute respiratory failure caused by malignant central airway obstruction (MCAO). It analyzes outcomes like survival, oxygen support weaning, and post-procedure oncologic treatment. It aims to guide clinical decisions and improve patient care for this challenging condition.

Background and Objective: EpiGETIF is a web-based, multicentre clinical database created in 2019 aiming for prospective collection of data regarding therapeutic rigid bronchoscopy (TB) for malignant central airway obstruction (MCAO)., Methods: Patients were enrolled into the registry from January 2019 to November 2022. Data were prospectively entered through a web-interface, using standardized definitions for each item. The objective of this first extraction of data was to describe the population and the techniques used among the included centres to target, facilitate and encourage further studies in TB., Results: Overall, 2118 patients from 36 centres were included. Patients were on average 63.7 years old, mostly male and smokers. Most patients had a WHO score ≤2 (70.2%) and 39.6% required preoperative oxygen support, including mechanical ventilation in 6.7%. 62.4% had an already known histologic diagnosis but only 46.3% had received any oncologic treatment. Most tumours were bronchogenic (60.6%), causing mainly intrinsic or mixed obstruction (43.3% and 41.5%, respectively). Mechanical debulking was the most frequent technique (67.3%), while laser (9.8%) and cryo-recanalization (2.7%) use depended on local expertise. Stenting was required in 54.7%, silicone being the main type of stent used (55.3%). 96.3% of procedure results were considered at least partially successful, resulting in a mean 4.1 points decrease on the Borg scale of dyspnoea. Complications were noted in 10.9%., Conclusion: This study exposes a high volume of TB that could represent a good source of future studies given the dismal amount of data about the effects of TB in certain populations and situations., (© 2024 Asian Pacific Society of Respirology.)