title: Changes in quality of life, dyspnea scores, and lung function in lung cancer patients with airway obstruction after a therapeutic bronchoscopy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Quality of life (QoL) has been closely linked with symptom intensity in lung cancer patients. It is therefore important to relieve respiratory distress in these severely ill patients, especially because their short life expectancy. This prospective study aimed to evaluate the impact of a therapeutic bronchoscopy on QoL, dyspnea, and lung function in patients with malignant airway obstruction.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifteen cancer patients with airway obstruction were enrolled in the study. All patients were followed up during 2 months by 4 assessments that consisted of a clinical examination, QoL assessment using European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer QLQ-C30 questionnaire with LC-13 module, Borg Dyspnea Scale, and lung function tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study showed that therapeutic bronchoscopy had a rather persistent effect on QoL and dyspnea, which were sustained for at least 2 months after the procedure. The study population had also a significant improvement in lung function.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Therapeutic bronchoscopy has a positive impact on QoL, dyspnea scale values, and lung function in patients with advanced lung cancer and airway obstruction.
authors.affiliation: The Intervention Centre Department of Respiratory Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway. kirill.neumann@gmail.com
authors.forename: Kirill
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Neumann
authors.forename: Arve
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sundset
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Espinoza
authors.forename: Johny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kongerud
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fosse
mesh_terms: D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000209:etiology; D001999:Bronchoscopy; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests