title: [Application of high-frequency electrocautery combined with high pressure balloon expansion in treatment of benign airway obstruction].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the value of high-frequency electrocautery combined with high-pressure balloon expansion in the treatment of benign airway obstruction.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve patients with complete airway obstruction received treatment with high-frequency electrocautery and high-pressure balloon expansion, and 6 months of follow-up was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After the initial treatment, the rate of airway obstruction relief exceeded 50% in 8 patients, who showed lung recruitment and an increased dyspnea index, suggesting total effectiveness; one patient showed mild improvement with airway stenosis relief by less than 50% (the upper-left lobe remained obstructed). Stents were implanted eventually in 7 patients for airway maintenance. Two patients showed relief of the airway obstruction by over 50% after the initial treatment, but lung recruitment or dyspnea relief failed to be achieved, suggesting non-response to the treatment. The airway failed to be found in 1 case (who received 5 previous operations of ablation and dilatation), which was considered a non-response case.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High-frequency electrocautery combined with high pressure balloon expansion is clinically effective with few complications in some cases of benign complete airway stenosis. The possibility of airway stenosis and even obstruction should be considered in patients with tuberculosis during the treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Diseases, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou 510080, China. 88398803@163.com
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Zheng-xian
authors.initials: ZX
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Ji-quan
authors.initials: JQ
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000601:surgery* / Q000628:therapy*; D001999:Bronchoscopy / Q000379:methods; D002404:Catheterization / Q000379:methods*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004564:Electrocoagulation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055815:Young Adult