title: [Argon plasma coagulation combined with cryotherapy via bronchoscopy for the treatment of one child with severe post-intubation tracheal stenosis and literature review].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the short term effect of argon plasma coagulation (APC) combined with cryotherapy via bronchoscopy for treatment of severe post-intubation tracheal stenosis in a child.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 3-year old boy was admitted for cephalothorax abdominal compound trauma and dyspnea, who had severe post-incubation tracheal stenosis. The agreement about the operation risk was signed by the parents. Endotracheal APC procedure was performed with a bronchoscope under general anesthesia. The APC probe was put into the working channel of the bronchoscope. The stenotic lesion was endoscopically visualized and then coagulated by argon plasma. Such coagulation was carried out several times at the stenotic site until it gradually became dilated. The devitalized tissue was mechanically removed with grasping forceps. Thereafter, bronchoscopic cryosurgery was repeatedly performed at the stenotic site. Clinical symptoms, signs and bronchoscopic manifestations were observed right after operation, after 1 day, 10 days, 1 month and 6 months separately.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Tracheal tissue hyperplasia and cyanosis disappeared, laryngeal stridor and dyspnea improved obviously right after the operation. General condition of the patient was well, there was no laryngeal stridor and dyspnea 10 days after operation. The mucosa of the surgical site was smooth and no tracheostenosis was seen under bronchoscope at 1 month and 6 months after the operation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Argon plasma coagulation combined with cryotherapy via bronchoscope is an effective method to treat tracheal stenosis of children, which needs further exploration for the application.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Liaocheng People's Hospital, Liaocheng 252000, China.
authors.forename: Kuo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Liaocheng People's Hospital, Liaocheng 252000, China.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Liaocheng People's Hospital, Liaocheng 252000, China.
authors.forename: Ai-hua
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Liaocheng People's Hospital, Liaocheng 252000, China.
authors.forename: Ai-xia
authors.initials: AX
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Liaocheng People's Hospital, Liaocheng 252000, China. Email: sdlcyqz001@163.com.
authors.forename: Qiao-zhi
authors.initials: QZ
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D057908:Argon Plasma Coagulation / Q000379:methods*; D001999:Bronchoscopy; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017679:Cryotherapy; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007818:Laryngeal Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D014132:Trachea / Q000601:surgery; D014135:Tracheal Stenosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000601:surgery