Therapeutic bronchoscopic intervention with resector balloon

In this study a novel therapeutic bronchoscopic technique, balloon bronchoplasty with resector balloon, was used in 128 procedures for 112 consecutive patients with airway obstruction from lung cancer or granulation tissue. All procedures, except 4, were performed with a rigid bronchoscope under general anesthesia. The remainder were performed with a flexible bronchoscope under local anesthesia. In all procedures, balloon bronchoplasty was the primary method and we achieved 100% success with no major immediate or long-term complications. The technique also facilitated submucosal and distal tumor resection. We found balloon bronchoplasty using resector balloon to be a safe, effective, fast, easy, and potentially cost-effective method in the management of airway obstruction from endobronchial submucosal lesions.