Ventilating tracheal resectoscope.

The ventilating tracheal resectoscope (Karl Storz) combines the advantages of a ventilating bronchoscope and the resecting cytoscope for removal of soft tissue from the airway. The resectoscope offers several distinct advantages over other methods of granulation tissue removal. The procedure is done under direct vision with magnification and illumination of a rod-lens optical system. Suprastomal granulation tissue is resected cleanly, without tearing or stripping adjacent mucosa. Hemorrhage is readily controlled with the coagulating mode. The resectoscope can also be used for removing benign tumors (such as recurrent respiratory papillomatosis) from the trachea and bronchi. Its use in the efficient removal of malignant tumors and subglottic soft tissue has also been described.