[Palliative intrabronchial laser treatment of malignant bronchial stenosis using the fiberbronchoscope]

During a period of 15 months we performed a laser therapy of bronchi stenosis due to malignant tumors in 28 patients. We used a Neodym-YAG-Laser (MBB-AT, Munich), guided through a fiberbronchoscope (Olympus BF-1 TR). 59% of total-stenoses and 83% of the partly occluded bronchi could be opened sufficiently. During a follow-up period of 12 months (mean 4.7 m) 83% of the bronchi remained open. According to our experience, fractional tissue removal is the method of choice rather than all-at-once coagulation since tissue edema may cause bronchial occlusion 1 to 3 days after treatment. We think, if surgical treatment is ruled out, intrabronchial laser coagulation is an alternative with little impairment of the patient to prevent hypoventilation and repair functional conditions.