[Management of airway obstruction using the neodymium-yttrium-aluminium-garnet laser]

The neodymium-yttrium-aluminium-garnet laser (Nd-YAG laser) has proved to be useful therapeutic tool for the management of endobronchial lesions. Between February 1983 and January 1991, 16 patients received endobronchial laser therapy at the Nagasaki University Hospital, 7 patients for tracheal stenosis, and 9 for endobronchial obstruction. In 4 patients with tracheal stenosis, the therapy was performed in an emergency. The type of lesions were lung cancer in 7 patients, thyroid cancer in 3, tracheal tumor (squamous cell carcinoma, and chondrosarcoma) in 2, esophageal cancer in 1, bronchial submucosal tumor in 1, and tracheobronchial tuberculosis in 2. Good symptomatic relief was obtained in 13 patients. One patient died from massive bleeding in the left main stem bronchus. Reobstruction had occurred in 2 patients with cicatricial lesion in right main stem bronchus. In patients with an unresectable malignant lesion, concurrent radiotherapy was needed to prevent the reobstruction.