[Anesthesiologic support of endoscopic laser surgery of the upper respiratory tract]

This paper discusses anesthesiological aspects of laser operations in the nasal cavity and pharynx, describes optimal anesthesiological procedures during endolaryngeal laser operations, and outlines anesthesiological methods during laser endoscopic interventions in the trachea and bronchi. In order to provide safety of anesthesiological support of laser operations of the upper respiratory tract, the present authors recommend to discontinue for no more than 1 to 1.5 min supply of the gas mixture or oxygen. On the basis of their own expertise and analysis of data in the literature, the authors assert that endolaryngeal laser operations, surgery of the trachea and bronchi of children as well as intervention using a rigid bronchoscope in adults should be performed with the help of general anesthesia. Laser operations using a fibrobronchoscope in adults as well as operations of the nasal cavity and pharynx can be carried out using local anesthesia.