Background: Bronchial obstruction by advanced lung cancer is troublesome. Radiation therapy has been the choice of treatment, but it may take the long time until relieving obstruction and cause severe complications. To evaluate the clinical effect and complication of laser photoablation, we performed photoablation with Nd-YAG laser in the patients with malignant bronchial obstruction. Method: Twenty five patients with advanced lung cancer(24)and bronchial cystic carcinoma(l) were treated with laser photoablation for the symptomatic palliation of life- threatening bronchial obstruction from 1990 to 1994, in Daejeon St Mary's Hospital of Catholic University Medical Colledge. Results: The degree of bronchial obstruction and the performance status scales were markedly improved within a few days after laser photoablation. The degree of bronchial obstruction was reduced in twenty three cases(92%) and the Performance Status by Karnofsky Scales was improved from less than 30 to more than 50 in twenty one cases(84 %) after laser photoablation. Threre was no serious complication and no procedure-related mortality. Complications were as follows; fever(28%) and mild hemoptysis(16%). Conclusion: Laser photoablation is an effective therapeutic modality for the palliation of bronchial obstruction caused by advanced lung cancer. The procedure is very tolerable and safe without serious complication.
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