Treatment of Obstructing Endotracheobronchial Polypoid Tumors with Endoscopic Polypectomy

Abstract

Endoscopic polypectomy was successfully used to treat three patients with tracheobronchial obstruction. Two cases were lung cancer and the other one was neurilemoma of the trachea. The neck of the polypoid tumors was strangulated by the snare, and then electrocautery was performed. The cut tumor was removed by the fiberscope. Following the procedure, symptoms of all patients disappeared. There were no significant complications.
Endoscopic polypectomy has few respiratory complications. It seems that the most severe complication is bleeding. We think that a tracheal spiral long tube with a cuff and local injection of pure ethanol is useful.