Objective To summarize our experience of using rigid bronchoscopy in the managent of patients with tracheobronchial disease. Methods From Sep.2002 to Nov.2007, 44 patients of tracheobronchial disease（31 men，13 women, median age 51.9 years) underwent rigid bronchoscopic operations. All procedures were carried out under general anesthesia with high frequency jet ventilation. After the rigid bronchoscope was placed in the main trachea through the mouth , the airway was checked out firstly, and then the lesion was removed by repeated freezing, argon plasma coagulation, cauterization or mechanical ablation, and a stent maybe implanted while needed. Results All 54 procedures were accomplished endoscopically without mortality or major morbidity (16 clearence,19 core out,8 scar clearance,3 foreign body removal, 8 stent insert or removal).The lesion located at trachea in 19 cases, at carina in 4 cases,at left main bronchus in 11 cases and at right main bronchus in 10 cases. There were 17 benign diseases and 27 malignant diseases. There were 3 slight complications. 16 patients compliating with benign disease were followed-up and 1 patient was missed,there was no tumor recurrence except 3 patients complicating with tracheal scar who received reoperations during 4-44 (mean 23.0) months follow-up period. Of the 27 malignant cases,23 patients were followed-up and 4 patients were missed, the follow-up period were 5-58(mean 27.1)months.3 patients died in one months after operation of other disease; the other patients all survived more than one month,especially 7 patients who received radical resection of the tumor survived more than one year. Conclusions These data show that rigid bronchoscope can be applied safely and effectively in the management of tracheobronchial disease.
Citation： JIANG Guanchao,LI Yun,WANG Jun,et al .. Application of Rigid Bronchoscopy in the Treatment of Tracheobronchial Disease. Chinese Journal of Clinical Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, 2008, 15(5): 345-349. doi: Copy