Purpose of reviewAirway obstruction continues to cause substantial pulmonary morbidity and mortality. We present a review of classic, current, and evolving management techniques, highlighting recently published studies on the topic. Recommendations have historically been primarily based on anecdotal experience, case reports, and retrospective studies, but more solid evidence has emerged in the last decade. Recent findingsNovel endobronchial stents are being developed to mitigate the issues of stent migration, mucus plugging, fracture, and granulation tissue formation. Endobronchial drug delivery has become an active area of translational and clinical research, especially with regards to antineoplastic agents used for malignant airway stenosis. Even classic or updated techniques such as spray cryotherapy, injections of mitomycin-c, and balloon dilation have recently been examined in methodologically sound studies. Finally, recently published data have confirmed that patient breathlessness and quality of life improve significantly with therapeutic airway interventions. A multimodal and multidisciplinary approach to patient care is key to achieving the best outcomes.

Background: The impact of hospitalization on patient outcomes is increasingly recognized and considered in the prognostication of many pulmonary disorders. We sought to evaluate the impact of hospitalization on survival in connective tissue disease-interstitial lung disease (CTD-ILD) patients. Methods: A chart review of patients with CTD-ILD followed at a tertiary care center was performed. Patients were stratified into two groups based on hospitalization status. Outcomes of the groups were compared using Kaplan-Meier survival analyses as well as multivariate competing risk analysis. Results: There were 137 patients identified with confirmed CTD-ILD. Patients who underwent hospitalization for any reason had a significant decrease in transplant-free survival compared to the never hospitalized cohort (3year survival 60% vs. 94%; p = 0.0001). Hospitalization for ≥7 days was associated with worse outcomes than those hospitalized for < 7 days (median survival 1.59 years vs. 7.17 years, p = 0.0012). Based on multivariate competing risk analysis, factors associated with death, with lung transplantation as a competing risk, were age (HR = 1.05 [95% 1.01-1.09]; P = 0.0443), male gender (HR = 4.94 [95% CI: 1.58-15.41]; P = 0.006), and all cause hospitalization (HR = 11.97 [95% CI: 1.36-105.49]; P = 0.0253). Conclusion:This study highlights the impact of hospitalization on subsequent outcomes in the CTD-ILD population with a significantly reduced transplant-free survival demonstrated, especially after cardiopulmonary hospitalization events.

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