ISSN: 1837-9664Journal of Cancer
Global reach, higher impact
J Cancer 2016; 7(7):794-802. doi:10.7150/jca.15097 This issue Cite
Research Paper
Survival and Quality of Life Benefit after Endoscopic Management of Malignant Central Airway Obstruction
1. 1st Pulmonary Medicine Department of National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, “Sotiria” General Hospital Athens, Greece;
2. 1st Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine department of National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, “Evangelismos” Hospital Athens, Greece;
3. Oncology Unit, 3rd Department of Internal Medicine of National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, “Sotiria” General Hospital, Athens, Greece;
4. Pulmonary Oncology Unit, “G. Papanikolaou” General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece;
5. Nuclear Medicine Department, University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece.
Abstract
Background: Although interventional management of malignant central airway obstruction (mCAO) is well established, its impact on survival and quality of life (QoL) has not been extensively studied.
Aim: We prospectively assessed survival, QoL and dyspnea (using validated EORTC questionnaire) in patients with mCAO 1 day before interventional bronchoscopy, 1 week after and every following month, in comparison to patients who declined this approach.
Material/Patients/Methods: 36 patients underwent extensive interventional bronchoscopic management as indicated, whereas 12 declined. All patients received full chemotherapy and radiotherapy as indicated. Patients of the 2 groups were matched for age, comorbidities, type of malignancy and level of obstruction. Follow up time was 8.0±8.7 (range 1-38) months.
Results: Mean survival for intervention and control group was 10±9 and 4±3 months respectively (p=0.04). QoL improved significantly in intervention group patients up to the 6th month (p<0.05) not deteriorating for those surviving up to 12 months. Dyspnea decreased in patients of the intervention group 1 month post procedure remaining reduced for survivors over the 12th month. Patients of the control group had worse QoL and dyspnea in all time points.
Conclusions: Interventional management of patients with mCAO, may achieve prolonged survival with sustained significant improvement of QoL and dyspnea.
Keywords: lung cancer, intervention, quality of life.
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