Endobronchial resection with the Nd-YAG laser--two years experience in an Australian unit

In a two year period 44 endobronchial resections using the Neodymium-YAG laser have been performed in 28 patients. The majority of cases had either bronchogenic carcinoma (57%) or metastatic carcinoma (18%) involving the bronchial tree. Adenoid cystic carcinoma, benign tumours, lymphoma, tracheal papillomatosis, Wegener's granulomatosis and benign stricture comprised the other cases. Rigid bronchoscopy and general anaesthesia were used in the majority. Symptomatic improvement of dyspnoea when relief of bronchial obstruction occurred was marked in ten of 17 cases, moderate in four and absent in three. Haemoptysis was markedly improved in two of three cases and obstructive pneumonitis resolved in one of two cases. Significant respiratory function improvement was observed in Raw (most sensitive), FEV11, FVC and TLC. Laser treatment restored the lumen to normal calibre in 52% (including all patients with tracheal lesions), to greater than half normal in 28% and to less than half normal in 20% of cases. Re-expansion of a collapsed lung or lobe occurred in seven of eight patients. In six of these patients laser treatment was the initial therapy resulting in immediate re-expansion and symptomatic relief prior to further therapy. In pa...Continue Reading