Management of plastic bronchitis with nebulized tissue plasminogen activator: another brick in the wall.

Abstract

Plastic bronchitis is a rare complication of a variety of respiratory diseases and congenital heart disease surgery, particularly Fontan procedure. Bronchial casts with rubber-like consistency develop acutely and may cause severe life-threatening respiratory distress. The management of plastic bronchitis is yet not well defined. Early intermittent, self-administered nebulization of tissue plasminogen activator was found to be effective in preventing deterioration of acute respiratory symptoms in a patient with primary ciliary dyskinesia and recurrent cast formation. Further investigation into new therapeutic strategies for this devastating disease is advocated.

• Authors: Massimo Colaneri, Andrea Quarti, Marco Pozzi, Stefano Gasparini, Ines Carloni, Fernando Maria de Benedictis
• Journal: Italian journal of pediatrics (Ital J Pediatr) Vol. 40 Issue 1 Pg. 18 (Feb 13 2014) ISSN: 1824-7288 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 24524376 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Tissue Plasminogen Activator

Topics

• Administration, Inhalation
• Adolescent
• Bronchitis (diagnosis, drug therapy)
• Bronchoscopy
• Diagnosis, Differential
• Follow-Up Studies
• Humans
• Male
• Microscopy, Electron
• Nebulizers and Vaporizers
• Respiratory Mucosa (ultrastructure)
• Tissue Plasminogen Activator (administration & dosage)