Medtronic. Dr. Nead has received personal fees from Medtronic. Dr. Bowling has received personal fees from Medtronic. Dr. Murgu has received personal fees from Medtronic, Boston Scientific, Pinnacle Biologics, Olympus, Cook, Auris Robotics, and Elsevier; and has stock ownership in Concordia, Boston Scientific, and Merck. Dr. Krimsky has received personal fees from Medtronic, Innovital Systems, Gala Therapeutic, SOC, and Peytant; has stock ownership with Innovital Systems and CSA Medical; and has patents pending with Medtronic and Merit. Dr. Murillo has received support from Medtronic. Dr. LeMense has received personal fees from Medtronic. Dr. Minnich has received personal fees from Medtronic. Dr. Bansal has received personal fees from Medtronic, Pinnacle Biologics, Sunovion, and Veran Medical. Dr. Ellis has received support from Medtronic. Dr. Mahajan has received personal fees from Medtronic. Dr. Gildea has received personal fees from Medtronic. Dr. Bechara has received support from Medtronic. Dr. Sztejman has received support from Medtronic. Dr. Flandes has received grants from BTG-PneumRx and Ambu; and personal fees from Medtronic, BTG-PneumRx, Olympus, Ambu, PulmonX, and Boston Scientific. Dr. Rickman has received personal fees from Medtronic, Veran Medical, BD, Olympus, and Abbvie. Dr. Benzaquen has received support from Medtronic. Dr. Hogarth has received personal fees from Medtronic, Auris Surgical Robotics, Boston Scientific, Grifols, Shire, and CSL; and has stock ownership with Auris Surgical Robotics. Dr. Linden has received support from Medtronic. Dr. Wahidi has received personal fees from Medtronic and Veran Medical. Dr. Mattingley has received personal fees from Medtronic and is current employee of Medtronic (employment began after completion of enrollment). Dr. Hood is an employee with stock ownership at Medtronic; and has stock ownership with Boston Scientific. Ms. Lin and Ms. Wolvers are employees with stock ownership at Medtronic. Dr. Khandar has received personal fees from Medtronic.

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Alveolar-pleural fistulas causing persistent air leaks (PALs) are associated with prolonged hospital stays and high morbidity. Prior guidelines recommend surgical repair as the gold standard for treatment, albeit it is a solution with limited success. In patients who have recently undergone thoracic surgery or in whom surgery would be contraindicated based on the severity of illness, there has been a lack of treatment options. This review describes a brief history of treatment guidelines for PALs. In the past 20 years, newer and less invasive treatment options have been developed. Aside from supportive care, the literature includes anecdotal successful reports using fibrin sealants, ethanol injection, metal coils, and Watanabe spigots. More recently, larger studies have demonstrated success with chemical pleurodesis, autologous blood patch pleurodesis, and endobronchial valves. This manuscript describes these treatment options in detail, including postprocedural adverse events. Further research, including randomized controlled trials with comparison of these options, are needed, as is long-term follow-up for these interventions.

Tracheobronchomalacia and excessive dynamic airway collapse MURGU SD, COLT HG. Respirology 2006; 11: 388-406 Abstract: Tracheobronchomalacia and excessive dynamic airway collapse are two separate forms of dynamic central airway obstruction that may or may not coexist. These entities are increasingly recognized as asthma and COPD imitators. The understanding of these disease processes, however, has been compromised over the years because of uncertainties regarding their definitions, pathogenesis and aetiology. To date, there is no standardized classification, diagnosis or management algorithm. In this article we comprehensively review the aetiology, morphopathology, physiology, diagnosis and treatment of these entities.

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