Abstract
BACKGROUND: To observe the clinical effects and safety of endobronchial electrocautery snare combined with CO₂ cryosurgery for the treatment of tracheobronchial obstructive lesions. METHODS: Seventy-seven patients with airway tumor or granuloma were retrospectively reviewed, including 70 malignant airway obstruction and 7 benign airway lesions, for the treatment of endobronchial electrocautery snare plus CO₂ cryosurgery and argon plasma coagulation (APC). RESULTS: Eighty-five endobronchial snares were performed in 77 cases. 42.9% of the obstructive lesions were located in right bronchial orifice, 38.3% in main trachea 21.4% in left bronchial orifice. 89.7% of the malignant tumor was mixed type of lesions (endobronchial plus bronchial or external bronchial), only 10.3% was endobronchial. Obstructive stenosis was significant relieved after snare (80% before vs 20% after, P<0.01) in all patients. Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) and shortbreath score were obviously improved after snare. There was no severe complications related to the procedures. CONCLUSIONS: Endobronchial electrocautery snare is an effective and safe approach for tracheobronchial obstructions with few complications.