Airway spray cryotherapy: Initial outcomes from a multiinstitutional registry Journal Article


Authors: Finley, D. J.; Dycoco, J.; Sarkar, S.; Krimsky, W. S.; Sherwood, J. T.; Dekeratry, D.; Downie, G.; Atwood, J.; Fernando, H. C.; Rusch, V. W.
Article Title: Airway spray cryotherapy: Initial outcomes from a multiinstitutional registry
Abstract: Background: Spray cryotherapy (SCT) uses a noncontact system to deliver liquid nitrogen (2 to 4 psi) through an endoscopic catheter. Rapid freezing and thawing of tissue causes cellular death and is also hemostatic. We report the preliminary results from 6 institutions in which SCT was used for the treatment of malignant airway tumors. Methods: SCT was performed on patients with symptomatic airway tumors and reviewed retrospectively. Airway narrowing was graded as 25% or smaller, 26% to 50%, 51% to 75%, and exceeding 75%. All events were documented and assessed. Results: Eighty patients (45 male [56%]) underwent 114 treatments. Median age was 66 years (range, 15 to 90 years). All patients were treated with minimal blood loss. Fifty-eight percent of the cases were outpatient procedures. Airway obstruction exceeded 75% in most of the lesions treated. There were 21 intraoperative events (19%), including hypotension, bradycardia and tachycardia, ST segment changes, desaturation, and an airway tear. Three pneumothoraces occurred, one requiring emergency chest tube placement. Two intraoperative deaths were associated with bradycardia. Three postoperative deaths occurred in patients who were transitioned to comfort care. All but 1 patient had airway patency after treatment. Conclusions: SCT can be used in patients with highly vascular tumors, with reduced bleeding complications and a low overall complication rate. Caution is needed before SCT is used on a widespread basis, given the intraoperative complications. Although the potential benefit of SCT is considerable, this needs to be confirmed in larger studies. © 2012 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons.
Keywords: adolescent; adult; treatment outcome; aged; aged, 80 and over; middle aged; retrospective studies; bleeding; lung neoplasms; bradycardia; medical record review; hypotension; registries; pneumothorax; tube; outpatient care; tachycardia; cryosurgery; airway obstruction; cryotherapy; peroperative complication; aerosol; respiratory tract tumor
Journal Title: Annals of Thoracic Surgery
Volume: 94
Issue: 1
ISSN: 0003-4975
Publisher: Elsevier Science, Inc.  
Date Published: 2012-07-01
Start Page: 199
End Page: 204
Language: English
DOI: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2012.01.112
PROVIDER: scopus
PUBMED: 22516831
DOI/URL:
Notes: --- - "Export Date: 1 August 2012" - "CODEN: ATHSA" - "Source: Scopus"
Altmetric
Citation Impact
BMJ Impact Analytics
MSK Authors
  1. Valerie W Rusch
    865 Rusch
  2. David John Finley
    40 Finley
  3. Joseph Dycoco
    46 Dycoco