title: Laser debulking in malignant upper airway obstruction.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The conventional treatment for patients with upper airway obstruction secondary to malignancy is a tracheostomy. Although this effectively resolves the problem, a tracheostomy can be associated with complications and is irreversible in most patients. An alternative is to debulk part of the tumor causing airway obstruction to maintain the airway until the definitive procedure.
  
  
  METHODS
  The clinical course of 43 patients who underwent laser debulking for airway obstruction caused by laryngeal or hypopharyngeal malignancies was retrospectively studied. We present our technique of laser debulking and the efficacy of the procedure in avoiding a tracheostomy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fourteen patients who underwent this procedure received palliative treatment only. The number of debulking procedures per patient ranged from one to six, with a mean of 1.9 episodes. Although these patients had a higher comorbid burden, none were thought unsuitable for the procedure. A tracheostomy was avoided in 91% of patients. No laser-related complications were encountered.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Laser debulking is a viable alternative to tracheostomy in patients with malignant upper airway obstruction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne NE7 7DN, England.
authors.forename: Vinidh
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Paleri
authors.forename: Frank William
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: Stafford
authors.forename: Mario S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Sammut
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006488:Hemostasis, Surgical; D006801:Humans; D007012:Hypopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D007828:Laryngoscopy; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D010166:Palliative Care; D012135:Respiratory Sounds / Q000209:etiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014139:Tracheostomy