Predictors of Successful Recanalization Following Endobronchial Cryotherapy: Role of Obstruction Grade and Symptom Severity | ||||
| Aswan University Medical Journal | ||||
| Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available Online from 05 July 2025 | ||||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||||
| DOI: 10.21608/aumj.2025.391266.1241 | ||||
 View on SCiNiTO | ||||
| Authors | ||||
Omar Tarek Mahfouz  1; Alaa El-Dein Omar Shalaby2; Sabah Ahmed Mohamed2; Shazly Ahmed Boghdady1
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| 1Chest diseases and Tuberculosis department, Faculty of Medicine, Aswan University | ||||
| 2Chest diseases and Tuberculosis department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University | ||||
| Abstract | ||||
| Background: Endobronchial cryotherapy is a minimally invasive modality for treating central airway obstruction (CAO), yet predictors of successful recanalization remain underexplored. This study evaluates the prognostic value of airway obstruction grade and symptom severity in predicting therapeutic outcomes. Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted on 68 patients with symptomatic CAO at Kasr Al Ainy Hospital, Cairo University. All patients underwent bronchoscopic cryotherapy using a flexible cryoprobe. Symptom severity was scored clinically, and bronchoscopic assessment graded the degree of obstruction. Procedural outcomes were categorized as complete, partial, or failed recanalization. Results: The mean patient age was 36.9 ± 20 years; 63.2% were male. Most lesions were benign (54.4%), with foreign bodies accounting for 62.2% of benign obstructions. Complete recanalization was achieved in 77.9% of cases. ROC analysis showed obstruction grade (cutoff ≤ 4) had a sensitivity of 67.9%, specificity of 86.7%, and AUC of 0.798. Dyspnea grade (cutoff ≤ 2) had a sensitivity of 64.2%, specificity of 60%, and AUC of 0.662. Conclusion: Degree of bronchial obstruction and dyspnea severity are significant predictors of successful recanalization following cryotherapy. These parameters can enhance pre-procedural risk stratification and improve therapeutic planning in CAO management. | ||||
| Keywords | ||||
| Endobronchial cryotherapy; Central airway obstruction; Bronchoscopic intervention; Cryorecanalization | ||||
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