Summary
Endobronchial laser irradiation was performed on 27 patients with inoperable malignant (n=23) and benign (n=4) disease of the bronchial system for the treatment of recurrent pulmonary bleeding and recanalization of centrally obstructed or stenosed airways. The essentially palliative measure led in more than half the patients with hemoptysis to immediate and lasting hemostasis, in all patients with stenosis to complete or partial restoration of airway patency, and in 7 of 11 patients with total obstruction to a radiologically verifiable re-expansion of atelectasis. In the total of 58 laser treatments performed, complications occurred in three cases and were managed by conventional clinical measures. Successful recanalization in patients with pre-existing bronchial obstruction presupposes a short-segment, polypous tumor growth, intact bronchial wall structures, and short occlusion time. In addition to the treatment and prophylaxis of recurrent pulmonary bleeding, the principal use of endobronchial laser treatment in the future will probably concentrate on the palliative therapy of preocclusive stenoses of the trachea and main bronchi.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Dierkesmann R (1982) Rekanalisierung bronchialer Tumorstenosen mit dem Nd-YAG-Laser. Internist 23:283–286
Dinstl K, Fischer PL (1981) Der Laser. Grundlagen und klinische Anwendung. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York
McDougall JC, Cortese DA (1983) Neodymium-YAG Laser Therapy of malignant airway obstruction. A preliminary report. Mayo Clin Proc 58:35–39
Dumon JF, Reboud E, Garbe L, Aucomte F, Meric B (1982) Treatment of tracheobronchial lesions by laser photoresection. Chest 81:278
Dumon JF, Reboud E, Guidicelli R, Fuentes F, Meric B (1981) Interest du YAG laser dans les stenoses tracheales non tumorales. A propos de trente et un malades. Ann Chir Thorac Cardiovasc 35:620–622
Häußinger K (1982) Bronchofiberskopische Laserkoagulation zur Therapie der rezidivierenden Lungenblutung. Dtsch Med Wochenschr 107:1129–1131
Häußinger K, Cujnik F, Held E, Heldwein W, Zeiner E (1982) Bronchoskopische Laserkoagulation zur Therapie des zentralen Bronchusverschlusses. Prax Klin Pneumol 36:471–474
Hetzel MR, Millard FJC, Ayesh R, Bridges CE, Nanson EM, Swain CP, Williams IP (1983) Laser treatment for carcinoma of the bronchus. Br Med J 286:12–16
Kiefhaber P, Nath G, Moritz K (1977) Endoscopical control of massive gastrointestinal hemorrhage by irridiation with a highpower neodymium-YAG laser. Prog Surg 15:140
Laforet EG, Berger RL, Vaughan CW (1976) Carcinoma obstructing the trachea. Treatment by laser resection. N Engl J Med 294:941
Oko K, Amemiya TR et al. (1981) Laser surgery in the Trachea and bronchus via the fibreoptic bronchoscope. In: Atsumi K, Nimsakul N (eds) Proceedings of 4th congress of International Society for Laser Surgery, Tokyo, November 1981. Tokai University, Kanagawa. International Society for Laser Surgery: 16–19
Tamada J, Ito M, Teramatsu T (1981) Clinical study of bronchofibresopie Nd-YAG laser surgery. In: Atsumi K, Nimsakul N (eds) Proceedings of 4th congress of International Society for Laser Surgery, Tokyo, November 1981. Tokai University, Kanagawa. International Society for Laser Surgery: 13–15
Toty L, Personne C, Colchen A, Vourc'H G (1981) Bronchoscopic management of tracheal lesions using the neodynium yttrium aluminium garnet laser. Thorax 36:175–178
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Häußinger, K., Held, E. & Huber, R. Endobronchial laser therapy — Differential therapeutic use and clinical value. Klin Wochenschr 62, 74–80 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01769666
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01769666