Video Endoscopy for Laser Photoresection in Tracheobronchial Pathology: Some Considerations After 9 Years Experience With 2105 Treatments

Abstract

Between 1984 and 1993 we performed 2105 laser treatments in 1210 patients: 52% of treatments were done for malignant pathology, 45% for benign tracheal stenoses and 3% were in a miscellaneous group. The procedure was carried out with a rigid bronchoscope under general anaesthesia. In patients with malignant tumors, it is a good palliative treatment—safe, well tolerated and with immediate results; it can be repeated as many times as needed with and is well accepted by the patient. In patients without tumors, this method avoids emergency tracheotomies. The long term results are now under evaluation.

Efficacy and safety of photodynamic therapy versus Nd‐YAG laser resection in NSCLC with airway obstruction

“…Most patients with inoperable tracheobronchial lesions will require palliative treatment with the primary goal of relieving an obstructed airway [3]. Neodymium‐yttrium aluminium garnet (Nd‐YAG) laser therapy is increasingly used in cases of nonresectable bronchogenic carcinoma [3, 4] and the results of different studies confirm the usefulness and safety of this method in relieving local symptoms and improving quality of life [5–7]. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) consists of the systemic administration of a photosensitizing agent, such as dihaematoporphyrin ether (DHE), followed by the delivery of light of a specific wavelength to the fluorescing tissue [8–11].…”