Tracheobronchoplasty followed by bilateral lung transplantation for Mounier-Kuhn syndrome

Abstract

Schematic of Marlex (Bard, Murray Hill, NJ) mesh tracheobronchoplasty and bilateral lung transplantation for Mounier Kuhn syndrome. CENTRAL MESSAGESuccessful bilateral lung transplantation can be performed after tracheobronchoplasty with good perioperative outcomes and intermediate-term results.See Commentaries on pages 403 and 404.

Commentary: Keepin' it real—the future is now

“…Dunne and colleagues 1 discuss the presentation and management of a patient with progressive symptomatic Mounier-Kuhn Syndrome. The patient's symptoms were attributed to large airway disease, including severe tracheobronchomalacia (TBM) that was treated with open tracheobronchoplasty (TBP).…”

“…Heavy smokers with lung nodules, previous lung cancer, or worsening pulmonary function tests should be carefully assessed before proceeding with TBP. However, as Dunne and colleagues demonstrate, 1 complex thoracic procedures are still achievable afterward.…”

Commentary: I wouldn't recommend trying this…

“…This commentary is being written for JTCVS Techniques as an appraisal of the Toronto group's successful transplantation of a patient with Mounier-Kuhn disease who had undergone a previous tracheobronchoplasty. 1 I wasn't sure what to say here, but after some period of introspection, I compiled the following thoughts: (1) that looks really hard; (2) it could have gone horribly wrong; (3) no one should be encouraged to try to repeat this procedure/technique; (4) this group really is just better than most of us.…”