ABSTRACT

Cryorecanalization is a safe and effective method in the treatment of tracheabronchial obstruction. (Gazi Med J 2011; 22: 113-7)

The procedure was performed under general anesthesia in 18 (90%) patients and performed under local anesthesia in 2 (10%) pa-tients. No important complications occurred in any of the patients. Symptom palliation was achieved in 80% of patients after applying the cryorecanalization method. We did not establish a statistically significant difference in the pulmonary function of patients before and after the procedure, even though there was an increase in FEV1 and FVC (%) values (before procedure: FEV1: 60.5±17.9, FVC: %71.1±17.8; after pro-cedure: FEV1: 72.3±15.2, FVC: %79.8±14.6, p>0.05). In addition, we did not establish a statistically significant difference in the values of arterial blood gas of the patients before and after the procedure, even though there was an increase in partial oxgen pressure values (before proce-dure: PO2: 71.7±8.8 mmHg; after procedure: PO2: 75.2±7.6 mmHg, p>0.05).

Twenty patients with tracheabronchial obstruction who were admitted to Gazi University School of Medicine, Department of Pul-monary Medicine, between 2007 and 2010 were treated by the cryorecanalization method.

Lung cancer is one of the most common tumors that causes millions of deaths all over the world. In spite of many studies performed concerning the treatment of lung cancer, the prognosis of lung cancer is poor. The patients with tracheabronchial obstruction may develop many symptoms such as dyspnea, cough, haemoptysis, atelectasis and pneumonia, but these symptoms were relieved by applying interventional bronchoscopic methods. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of the cryorecanalization method in the treatment of acute airway obstruction and the effectiveness of this method on symptom palliation, arterial blood gas and pulmonary function of patients with endobronchial tumor.