[Bronchial disobstruction in the treatment of cancer of the bronchi]

Abstract

The progression of bronchial cancer results in death due to local complications in more than one third of cases and systemic treatment often needs to be completed by disobstruction procedures which restore the continuity of the bronchial lumen and palliate the severe complications, in particular respiratory failure and bronchial infections. The techniques are described in detail: bronchoscopy, endoscopic resection with various types of forceps, diathermy loops and, most importantly, laser. A series of 99 disobstruction procedures performed in 47 patients is presented.