[Endoscopic laser surgery of the trachea and bronchi]

The authors conducted 76 endoscopic laser operations on 51 patients with malignant (18) and benign (9) tumors and cicatricial stenosis (24) of the trachea and bronchi. An AYG laser (on and yttrium aluminium garnet with neodymium) with a power of up to 27.5 Wt was used as the source of laser radiation. Intraoperative complications were recorded in 2 (2.6%) cases. The immediate results were good in 88.2%, satisfactory in 3.9%, and poor in 5.9% of patients. It is concluded that the endoscopic use of the AYG laser for the destruction of tumors, cicatrices, and granulations in the tracheal and bronchial lumen both as the first stage of surgical treatment and as an independent palliative method in inoperable patients is highly effective and safe.