title: Endoscopic laser therapy for obstructing tracheobronchial lesions.
abstract: The Lahey Clinic experience using laser bronchoscopy for relief of obstructive tracheobronchial lesions during a 7-year period from 1982 to 1989 involves 269 patients treated with 400 procedures. The carbon dioxide (CO2) laser was used for tracheal stenosis and granulation tissue. The neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Nd:YAG) laser was used for all obstructing endobronchial neoplasms. Indications for therapy included severe dyspnea, hemoptysis, and postobstructive pneumonitis. All patients had relatively central lesions. A rigid bronchoscope was used to treat 88% of patients, and 12% of patients were treated with a flexible bronchoscope. One death occurred during the intraoperative period. Eleven deaths occurred within 1 week of therapy and were related to the presence of extensive malignant lesions or to coronary artery disease. Our experience indicates that bronchoscopic application of the CO2 or Nd:YAG laser affords effective palliation for patients with obstructive tracheobronchial lesions. The Nd:YAG laser is recommended for patients with bulky vascular endobronchial neoplasms, and the CO2 laser is best reserved for patients with benign tracheal stenosis and granulation tissue.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Lahey Clinic Medical Center, Burlington, MA 01805.
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Beamis
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vergos
authors.forename: E E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Rebeiz
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Shapshay
mesh_terms: D001982:Bronchial Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D001999:Bronchoscopy; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010166:Palliative Care; D014135:Tracheal Stenosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*