Open AccessIndications of airway stenting for severe central airway obstruction due to advanced cancer
Author(s) -
Hiroaki Nagano,
Tomoo Kishaba,
Yuichiro Nei,
Satoshi Yamashiro,
Hiroaki Takara
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
plos one
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.99
H-Index - 332
ISSN - 1932-6203
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pone.0179795
Subject(s) - medicine , airway , univariate analysis , airway obstruction , respiratory failure , cancer , retrospective cohort study , surgery , multivariate analysis
Background Management of severe central airway obstruction due to advanced cancer is a medical and technical challenge. The impact of airway stenting on the clinical outcome of such patients is unclear. Method This single-center, retrospective study evaluated 21 patients who underwent airway stenting for advanced cancer. We examined predictors of the post-stenting mortality, including age, serum albumin, tracheal diameter, smoking, opioid use, respiratory failure, and performance status (PS). We also compared survival according to the PS. Results The mean survival period after stenting was 85.2 days. On univariate analysis, age, albumin, PS before airway stenting, respiratory failure, admission route, and PS grade were the candidates as possible predictors of prognosis after the procedure. On multivariate analysis, PS before airway stenting was identified as possible predictor of prognosis after stenting (HR 1.6180, 95% CI 0.969 to 2.7015, p = 0.066). The mean survival period after stenting was significantly longer in the good PS group, compared to the poor PS group (147.8 days vs. 38.2 days,p = 0.0346). Conclusion Airway stenting for advanced cancer may be more effective for patients in good general condition than in those with poor performance status.