Successful Healing of Tracheal Radionecrosis: Role of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy, the administration of 100% oxygen at pressures > 1 atm, is believed to promote wound healing by increasing angiogenesis and collagen synthesis. To our knowledge, this treatment modality has never been described in patients with tracheal radionecrosis. Here, we report the case of a 55-year-old man diagnosed with stage IIIB lung adenocarcinoma who was treated with chemotherapy and concomitant external intensity-modulated radiotherapy involving the left lung and mediastinum.

Aberrant gene methylation and bronchial dysplasia in high risk lung cancer patients.

Introduction: The risk for lung cancer is incremented in high degree dysplasia (HGD) and in subjects with hypermethylation of multiple genes. We sought to establish the association between them, as well as to analyze the DNA aberrant methylation in sputum and in bronchial washings (BW).

Methods: Cross sectional study of high risk patients for lung cancer in whom induced sputum and autofluorescence bronchoscopy were performed.

Endoscopic treatment of persistent alveolar-pleural air leaks with a unidirectional endobronchial valve.

The persistent air leaks due to alveolopleural fistula are not an uncommon complication of pneumothorax, particularly secondary ones. Unidirectional flow endobronchial valves designed for lung volume reduction are the latest incorporation to the therapeutic armamentarium. We present the case of a patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) with persistent pneumothorax in spite of treatment with three pleurodesis which was able to be resolved with the placement of two IBV™ valves.