[Evaluation with chest CT scan of CPAP as a treatment for tracheobronchomalacia in the frame of a Mounier-Kuhn syndrome]

Rev Mal Respir. 2020 Nov;37(9):748-751. doi: 10.1016/j.rmr.2020.06.014. Epub 2020 Jul 14.
[Article in French]

Abstract

Introduction: Tracheobronchomegaly disease is often associated with a tracheobronchomalacia which is responsible for recurrent lower respiratory tract infections. Currently there is no evidence to support any specific treatment for the condition.

Case report: We report the case of a 79 years old patient presenting with tracheobronchomegaly in the context of Mounier-Kuhn syndrome complicated by a tracheobronchomalacia responsible for her symptomatology. The diagnosis of tracheobronchomalacia had been confirmed by high-resolution chest computed tomography (CT) with expiratory slices and virtual bronchoscopy. Treatment with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) was proposed, and we confirmed its efficacy using high-resolution chest CT, which showed a decrease in tracheobronchial collapse and a reduction in air trapping.

Conclusions: Three-dimensional virtual bronchoscopy is an interesting tool and a noninvasive method to diagnose tracheobronchomegaly for patients who are at a high anesthetic risk. It is also possible to use it demonstrate the effect of CPAP in tracheobronchomalacia.

Keywords: CPAP; High-resolution CT; Mounier–Kuhn; PPC; Tomodensitométrie; Tracheobronchomalacia; Tracheobronchomegaly; Trachéobronchomalacie; Trachéobronchomégalie.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Continuous Positive Airway Pressure*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Prognosis
  • Thorax / diagnostic imaging*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Tracheobronchomalacia / complications*
  • Tracheobronchomalacia / diagnosis
  • Tracheobronchomalacia / therapy*
  • Tracheobronchomegaly / complications*
  • Tracheobronchomegaly / diagnosis
  • Tracheobronchomegaly / therapy*
  • Treatment Outcome