Endoscopic laser therapy in the tracheobronchial system.

Their physical properties make lasers ideal instruments for endoscopic surgical procedures in the narrow tracheobronchial system. By the thermal effects of the Nd-YAG laser, pathological benign and, especially, malignant lesions can be destroyed under direct vision. Working without contact with the tissue, sparing the risk of bleeding and further mechanical obstruction the laser has replaced mechanical and electrical devices and cryoprobes in interventional bronchoscopy to a large extent. Thus many patients with benign lesions can be spared the risk of major thoracic surgery of the large airways. To patients suffering from tumours of the central airways the chance of long-term palliation can be given by resolution of life-threatening complications. Furthermore, by photodynamic laser therapy after application of haematoporphyrin derivatives some patients may even be cured.