Bronchoscopic Treatment of Airway Obstructions With a Novel Electrosurgical Device

Airway obstructions (AOs) in the central airway or lobar bronchi develop due to malignant or benign disease. Because of the morbidity and mortality associated with AO, it is important to develop additional therapeutic ablative techniques. CoreCath2.7S is a novel monopolar radiofrequency electrosurgical device approved to treat obstructions of the upper airway and tracheobronchial tree by both cutting soft tissue and providing electrosurgical hemostasis. We present a large case series describing its use.

Retrospective chart review was performed of all patients with AO undergoing airway recanalization with CoreCath2.7S at 2 interventional pulmonology practices from October 2017 to May 2019. Demographic information, AO etiology, location, and degree, and therapeutic modalities used were recorded.

Fifty-three patients underwent 64 procedures for AO due to malignant (n=30, 57%) or benign (n=23, 43%) disease. AOs were treated in the trachea (n=28), mainstem bronchi (n=23), and lobar bronchi (n=17). All AO occluded the airway at least 50%. Adjunctive therapeutic modalities were commonly used (n=60, 94%), including flexible cryoprobe (n=33), balloon dilation (n=23), rigid bronchoscopy (n=19), spray cryotherapy (n=19), argon plasma coagulation (n=14), and stenting (n=5). Restoration of airway patency was achieved in all cases without any periprocedural or immediate postprocedural complications.

CoreCath2.7S was successfully used to treat patients with AO due to malignant or benign disease. Airway patency was restored with no periprocedural or immediate postprocedural complications. It should be considered as another therapeutic modality in the growing field of ablative techniques for the treatment of AO.