Bronchofiberscopic Polypectomy of Tracheobronchial Tumors by Electrosurgery

Abstract

Six patients were treated with transbronchial polypectomy using electrosurgery. Of the six, 1 had tracheal stenosis due to tracheal cancer, 1 had a tracheal papilloma, 3 had bronchial stenosis due to lung cancer, and 1 had bronchial obstruction due to neurinoma. We failed to diminish the tracheal stenosis in one patient, but were successful in resecting the tracheal papilloma and in decreasing bronchial stenosis or obstruction in the other 5 patients. With transbronchial polypectomy using electrosurgery, most cases with polyps or stenosis due to polyps show rapid improvement. The procedure does not produce the amount of smoke seen in YAG laser treatment. If it is diffcult to strangulate the tumor in a supine position, a lateral or prone position may be more suitable.