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Biomedical subjects

Atul C Mehta

Publications and source records attributed to Atul C Mehta.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

A multicenter trial of an intrabronchial valve for treatment of severe emphysema.

OBJECTIVES: Minimally invasive endoscopic treatment of emphysema could provide palliation with less risk than lung volume reduction surgery and offer therapy to patients currently not considered for lung volume reduction surgery. The Intrabronchial Valve is used to block bronchial airflow in the most emphysematous areas of lung. METHODS: Patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and heterogeneous upper lobe-predominant emphysema were eligible. Patients underwent flexible bronchoscopic placement of valves into segmental or subsegmental airways in both upper lobes. Outcomes assessed over a minimum of 6 months of follow-up included the safety, feasibility, tolerance, and success of valve placement; health-related quality of life; exercise capacity; pulmonary function; and gas exchange. RESULTS: Five centers treated 30 patients. Patient follow-up ranged from 1 to 12 months. A mean of 6.1 valves were placed per patient. Valves were positioned by means of flexible bronchoscopy in 99% of desired airways, and the procedure duration ranged from 15 to 125 minutes (mean, 65 minutes). Hospital discharge occurred within 2 days in 27 of 30 patients. There were no deaths or episodes of valve migration, tissue erosion, or significant bleeding. Eighty-three percent of patients had no adverse events judged probably or definitely related to the device. Patients experienced significant improvement in health-related quality of life, although the physiologic and exercise outcomes did not show statistically significant improvements. CONCLUSIONS: These first multicenter results with the Intrabronchial Valve demonstrate significant improvements in health-related quality of life and acceptable safety, ease of use, and procedural complication rates. The valve might be a safer and less-invasive alternative to surgical therapy for patients with severe emphysema.

Adult↗

Electromagnetic navigation diagnostic bronchoscopy: a prospective study.

RATIONALE: Electromagnetic navigation bronchoscopy using superDimension/Bronchus System is a novel method to increase diagnostic yield of peripheral and mediastinal lung lesions. OBJECTIVES: A prospective, open label, single-center, pilot study was conducted to determine the ability of electromagnetic navigation bronchoscopy to sample peripheral lung lesions and mediastinal lymph nodes with standard bronchoscopic instruments and demonstrate safety. METHODS: Electromagnetic navigation bronchoscopy was performed using the superDimension/Bronchus system consisting of electromagnetic board, position sensor encapsulated in the tip of a steerable probe, extended working channel, and real-time reconstruction of previously acquired multiplanar computed tomography images. The final distance of the steerable probe to lesion, expected error based on the actual and virtual markers, and procedure yield was gathered. MEASUREMENTS: 60 subjects were enrolled between December 2004 and September 2005. Mean navigation times were 7 +/- 6 min and 2 +/- 2 min for peripheral lesions and lymph nodes, respectively. The steerable probe tip was navigated to the target lung area in all cases. The mean peripheral lesions and lymph nodes size was 22.8 +/- 12.6 mm and 28.1 +/- 12.8 mm. Yield was determined by results obtained during the bronchoscopy per patient. RESULTS: The yield/procedure was 74% and 100% for peripheral lesions and lymph nodes, respectively. A diagnosis was obtained in 80.3% of bronchoscopic procedures. A definitive diagnosis of lung malignancy was made in 74.4% of subjects. Pneumothorax occurred in two subjects. CONCLUSION: Electromagnetic navigation bronchoscopy is a safe method for sampling peripheral and mediastinal lesions with high diagnostic yield independent of lesion size and location.

Adult↗

Endobronchial fungal disease: an under-recognized entity.

Most fungi enter the human body via inhalation; however, endobronchial fungal infection (EBFI) seems to be a rare manifestation compared to pulmonary or systemic disease. This presentation seems to be related to environmental factors as well as to the host status. With the increasing popularity of flexible bronchoscopy, it is being recognized with a higher frequency. Bronchoscopic findings in EBFI vary from mild mucosal inflammation to central airway obstruction. We searched English literature related to the topic and found 228 total cases of EBFI: Aspergillus species (121), Coccidioides immitis (38), Zygomycetes (31), Candida species (14) Cryptococcus neoformans (13), and Histoplasma capsulatum (11). We have also included a single case of endobronchial Pseudallescheria boydii infection in a lung transplant recipient that has not been reported previously. Most patients were immunocompromised, exhibited systemic manifestations of the primary infection, and responded to appropriate therapy. EBFI should be included in the differential diagnosis of any form of airway lesions in immunocompromised patients, especially among residents from the endemic areas.

Bronchitis↗

Extended use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation after lung transplantation.

OBJECTIVES: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) for severe graft failure after lung transplantation is accepted immediately postoperatively; extending its use is controversial. We evaluated our post-lung transplant ECMO experience, which included extended indication, to (1) determine its prevalence, risk factors, indications, and timing, (2) compare complications and outcomes of these patients with those not requiring it, and (3) identify risk factors, including indications, for mortality. METHODS: From February 1990 to October 2005, 474 patients underwent lung transplantation; postoperative ECMO support was instituted for severe graft failure 23 times in 22 patients (4.0%). Indications for ECMO and its timing were obtained by reviewing medical records and survival by systematic follow-up. RESULTS: No factor evaluated predicted severe graft failure leading to ECMO. The most common indication for ECMO was early graft failure (13 patients); however, it was also used for pneumonia or sepsis (6) and acute rejection (4). ECMO was initiated at a median arterial oxygen tension/inspired oxygen fraction of 59 at a median of 2 days postoperatively and was maintained for a median of 4 days. The most common complications were renal failure (57%) and bleeding (43%). ECMO was effective in salvaging patients with rejection and early graft failure (survival at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months: 62%, 54%, 49%, and 41%), but ineffective for pneumonia or sepsis (survival at these intervals: 9%, 4%, 4%, and 3%). CONCLUSIONS: ECMO can be extended beyond early severe graft failure to acute rejection and can be considered after the immediate postoperative period. Survival after ECMO in patients with pneumonia or sepsis is poor.

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation↗

Acanthosis nigricans following single lung transplantation: a case report.

Acanthosis nigricans was observed 3 months after single lung transplantation in a 51-year-old African American woman with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. The patient had no endocrinological abnormalities and was not taking any medications known to cause acanthosis nigricans; extensive investigation did not reveal an underlying malignant process. Because acanthosis nigricans may occur as a paraneoplastic phenomenon, it is important to rule out an underlying malignancy. This is especially important in solid-organ transplant recipients receiving chronic immunosuppressive therapy.

Acanthosis Nigricans↗

Performance of a self-expanding silicone stent in palliation of benign airway conditions.

INTRODUCTION: The Polyflex stent (Boston Scientific; Boston, MA) is a self-expanding, thin-walled, silicone stent. Its use has been described in the management of patients with malignant airway obstruction, yet reports of its use for treatment of benign airway conditions are rare. STUDY: We report a retrospective review of our experience with the Polyflex stent in the management of benign airway conditions. RESULTS: A total of 16 stents were deployed in 12 patients. The indications for the stent placement included the following: anastomotic stenosis following lung transplantation (LTR) [four patients]; tracheal stenosis (three patients); tracheobronchomalacia (two patients); tracheobronchopathiaosteochondroplastica (one patient); relapsing polychondritis (one patient); and bronchopleural fistula (one patient). Even though immediate palliation was established in most cases (90%), the incidence of complications was 75%. Stent migration was the most common consequence, with time to the event ranging from < 24 h to 7 months. One stent was expectorated within < 24 h. One patient coughed up a portion of the inner lining of the stent 7 months after its placement. Emergent bronchoscopy was required in four patients for mucous impaction. The complication rate was 100% in patients with LTR-related anastomotic stenosis. CONCLUSION: The use of the Polyflex stent for the treatment of benign airway conditions is associated with a high complication rate. We have abandoned its use under such conditions in our practice.

Adult↗

Cystic fibrosis in adults: an overview for the internist.

The care of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) has improved over the past 30 years, and most patients now survive well into adulthood. As a result, clinicians other than pediatricians are more likely than in the past to see CF patients and manage their respiratory, gastrointestinal, pancreatic, and reproductive complications.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗

Short-term deployment of self-expanding metallic stents facilitates healing of bronchial dehiscence.

Bronchial dehiscence after lung transplantation is difficult to treat and associated with high mortality. We describe our experience using self-expanding metallic stents to treat post-lung transplant bronchial dehiscence. From January 1995 to June 2004, 189 single and 118 double lung transplants were performed in our institution, totaling 425 at-risk bronchial anastomoses. Seven (1.6%) incidents of life-threatening bronchial dehiscence were treated with self-expanding metallic stents. The interval between transplant and diagnosis of dehiscence was 29.1 +/- 18.5 days. All patients presented with respiratory distress, and three required mechanical ventilation. Self-expanding metallic stent placement resulted in complete bronchial healing. All three patients with respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation were successfully weaned after stent placement. In two later cases, the stents were electively removed after adequate healing of the dehiscence. Complications included stent migration (one patient) and in-stent stenosis (three patients). Two of these patients required repeat stent insertion after removal, due to bronchomalacia. In patients with life-threatening bronchial dehiscence, self-expanding metallic stents offer prospects for a successful outcome. Self-expanding metallic stents are known to be associated with significant granulation tissue formation, and this property provides a platform for healing of dehiscence and, in time, peribronchial soft tissue grows in to cover the defect, allowing stent removal.

Anastomosis, Surgical↗