title: Diode laser in the endoscopic treatment of obstructive airway disease: two years experience in Istanbul.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Laser therapy is a well-known technique which has been safely used for almost thirty years to treat endobronchial obstruction. Nd : YAG and Nd : YAP lasers are commonly used lasers, whose safety and efficacy have been investigated in several large series. Diode laser is a new laser system which has been mainly used in urology, endovascular surgery, ENT, and dermatology. In recent years it has been effectively used in endobronchial treatments.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, 61 patients who underwent endobronchial treatment with a diode laser in the Interventional Pneumology Unit of our hospital were retrospectively evaluated. Fifty-one patients were male. Mean age was 54.72 ± 13.81 years, and a total of 90 laser applications were given. In 39 cases, palliation of a malign obstruction was achieved while cure was achieved in 19 cases with benign obstruction. No major complication other than minor hemorrhage in 4 cases and temporary hypoxia in 2 cases was observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Diode laser can be used as an effective and safe modality for endobronchial treatment.
authors.affiliation: Interventional Pulmonology Unit, Yedikule Teaching and Research Hospital for Chest Diseases and Thoracic Surgery, Istanbul, Turkey. leventdalar@gmail.com
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dalar
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Karasulu
authors.forename: S N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Sökücü
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Altin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D001999:Bronchoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000401:mortality; D054023:Lasers, Semiconductor / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010166:Palliative Care; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014421:Turkey