Bronchoscopic use of the neodymium-yttrium-aluminium-garnet laser for lesions of the trachea and bronchus.

The neodymium-yttrium-aluminium-garnet laser has proved to be a useful therapeutic tool for the management of endobronchial lesions. Between October 1, 1986 and October 31, 1987, 31 patients received 41 laser treatments at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Institute mainly for bronchial obstruction, haemoptysis or persistent cough. Good symptomatic relief was obtained in the majority of patients with no operative mortality and a moderate morbidity. When the endobronchial lesion is malignant, concurrent radiotherapy is needed to prevent the early recurrence of the cancer.