[Peroral transluminal dilatation of malignant bronchial stenosis]

We performed balloon-dilatations of complete malignant bronchial stenoses in three patients as a method of acute relief of tumor-induced atelectases before the institution of scheduled endobronchial laser-treatment. In all three cases we were able to reopen the affected bronchi without complications even in a at least two months existing complete atelectases. In four patients we performed bronchography of the pre- and poststenotic bronchi to demonstrate anatomy for safe endobronchial laser-treatment of these complete occlusions.