[Use of endoscopic laser and electrosurgical interventions in thoracic surgery]

A total of 320 endoscopic yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser and electrosurgical operations were carried out on 186 patients with tumors of the trachea and bronchi. Most operations were performed with the use of Friedel's respiratory bronchoscope and general anesthesia. Optimization of the methods of endoscopic laser and electrosurgical interventions made it possible to achieve a positive clinical result in the form of recanalization of the stenosis and arrest of bleeding in 143 (75.3%) patients. Laser and electrosurgical endothoracic operations performed through a thoracoscope in 81 patients with traumatic and spontaneous pneumothorax removed the cause of the pneumothorax in most of them and allowed endoscopic hemostasis to be conducted and thoracotomy to be avoided in some of them.