[Endoscopic treatment of iatrogenic tracheal stenosis by laser Nd:YAG]

The authors present the technique and results of endoscopic Nd:YAG laser treatment of inflammatory tracheal stenoses. This kind of therapy was employed in 10 patients with tracheal stenosis, resulting from long-term nastotracheal intubation (6 cases), tracheostomy tube after radical laryngectomy (3 cases) and tracheal trauma. The laser fiber was introduced into trachea by the operative channel of a flexible bronchoscope and vaporization of obstructing tissues carried out using contact method in continuous mode of light emission (power 7-20 Watts). The achievement of normal tracheal patency usually required several laser therapy sessions (3-5), repeated in 3-5 days intervals. The short-term results are encouraging: in all cases the normal tracheal was lumen was restored, resulting in alleviation of patients' symptoms. In 3 cases a recurrent tracheal stenosis, requiring additional laser treatment was observed.