Clinical Advantage of Laser Surgery on Laryngotracheal Stenosis

With Special Attention to Nd-YAG Laser Irradiation Applied to a Case with Tuberculosis

Abstract

The incidence of laryngotracheal stenosis secondary to traffic accident, labor disaster, malignant neck tumor and extended indication of tracheostomy has been increasing. Because of post-operative granulation and scar formation, it is well known that surgical management of the stenosis of the larynx and cervical trachea is usually difficult and a long therapeutic term is necessary. During the past 4 years, the authors treated 88 patients with both upper respiratory tract and oral cavity lesions using CO₂ and Nd-YAG laser irradiation. Among those subjects, six cases had airway stenosis caused by granulation and cicatrice secondary to inflammatory and traumatic lesions. Especially, a rare case with tuberculous tracheal stenosis treated successfully by Nd-YAG laser irradiation using flexible fiberscope was reported and discussed. Laser vaporization would be useful to apply for the respiratory stenosis with less bleeding and scarring.