Endobronchial electrosurgery.

Endobronchial electrosurgery (EBES) with the aid of a fiberoptic bronchoscope and a diathermic snare has been performed in 14 patients with tracheal and bronchial tumors (eight with benign, one with carcinoid, and five with malignant tumors). Total eradication has been achieved in the nine patients with benign and carcinoid tumors. In some patients, EBES was supplemented with surgical removal with the biopsy forceps or laser coagulation. Electroexcision of the endobronchial portion of the tumor helped to clear the respiratory airways in three of the five patients with malignant tumors. Emergent EBES was performed in two patients with acute respiratory failure and massive hemorrhage caused by adenocystic and thyroid cancer of the trachea.