Diode laser in the endoscopic treatment of obstructive airway disease: two years experience in Istanbul.

AIM: Laser therapy is a well-known technique which has been safely used for almost thirty years to treat endobronchial obstruction. Nd : YAG and Nd : YAP lasers are commonly used lasers, whose safety and efficacy have been investigated in several large series. Diode laser is a new laser system which has been mainly used in urology, endovascular surgery, ENT, and dermatology. In recent years it has been effectively used in endobronchial treatments.

MATERIAL AND METHOD: In this study, 61 patients who underwent endobronchial treatment with a diode laser in the Interventional Pneumology Unit of our hospital were retrospectively evaluated. Fifty-one patients were male. Mean age was 54.72 ± 13.81 years, and a total of 90 laser applications were given. In 39 cases, palliation of a malign obstruction was achieved while cure was achieved in 19 cases with benign obstruction. No major complication other than minor hemorrhage in 4 cases and temporary hypoxia in 2 cases was observed.

CONCLUSION: Diode laser can be used as an effective and safe modality for endobronchial treatment.