Palliative endobronchial tumor reduction by laser therapy. Procedure--immediate results--long-term results.

Over a period of 3 years, 224 laser treatments were performed on 105 patients. 84% were carried out under local anesthesia and 16% under general anesthesia. A neodymium-YAG laser (MBB-AT) was used. In 74% of the cases complete or partial tumor removal was possible. 72% of the successfully recanalized stenoses were still open after 4-6 months. In 19% of the cases low-grade complications occurred. The mortality was below 1%. The chief indications for endobronchial laser treatment are exophytic endobronchial tumors in the area of the trachea and primary bronchi. Endobronchial laser coagulation is indicated when surgery is no longer possible. It serves primarily to improve ventilation and bronchial drainage and in particular to prevent retention pneumonia.