HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Video Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Personal Folders Download to citation manager Permission Requests Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Hetzel, M. Articles by Babiak, A. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Hetzel, M. Articles by Babiak, A. Related Collections Trachea and bronchi

J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2004;127:1427-1431
© 2004 The American Association for Thoracic Surgery

Evolving technology

Cryorecanalization: A new approach for the immediate management of acute airway obstruction

^a Department of Internal Medicine II–Pulmonary Medicine, University Medical Center Ulm, Ulm, Germany

Received for publication October 22, 2003; revisions received December 15, 2003; accepted for publication January 22, 2004.

^* Address for reprints: Martin Hetzel, MD, Department of Internal Medicine II–Pulmonary Medicine, University Medical Center Ulm, Robert-Koch St 8, 89081 Ulm, Germany
martin.hetzel{at}medizin.uni-ulm.de

OBJECTIVES: Endobronchial cryotherapy is an established recanalization method for stenoses of the respiratory tract. However, previous applications of cryotherapy have not been immediately effective, requiring a second clean-up procedure several days later to finally obtain sufficient recanalization. In this study we demonstrate a newly developed cryoprobe allowing recanalization of tumor stenoses during a single intervention.

METHODS: In this prospective study flexible bronchoscopy was used for cryorecanalization of 60 patients with high-grade stenoses of the respiratory tract from exophytic tumors. Tumor tissue was frozen on the tip of the probe and subsequently removed from the surrounding respiratory tract tissue through retraction of the probe. Procedures were carried out on sedated, spontaneously breathing, intubated patients.

RESULTS: Fifty (83%) of 60 patients were successfully or partially successfully treated. Tumor bleeding occurred in 6 patients but was stopped with argon plasma coagulator treatment in all patients not requiring rigid bronchoscopy.

CONCLUSION: Cryorecanalization with the newly developed cryoprobe permits effective, safe, and inexpensive therapy of endobronchial stenoses of the respiratory tract.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				C. Schumann, P. M. Lepper, T. F.E. Barth, P. Moller, and S. Kruger Successful immediate cryorecanalization of a simultaneous high-grade tracheal and bronchial stenosis as rare manifestations of bronchial-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma. J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg., January 1, 2009; 137(1): e17 - e19. [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. Komatsu, R. Kaji, S. Okazaki, I. Miyawaki, K. Ishihara, and Y. Takahashi Endotracheal Tube Ignition During the Intratracheal Laser Treatment Asian Cardiovasc Thorac Ann, December 1, 2008; 16(6): e49 - e51. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Schumann, C. Kropf, T. Wibmer, T. Merk, and S. Kruger Therapy of exophytic bronchial tumorous stenosis by flexible cryoprobe Eur. Respir. J., December 1, 2006; 28(6): 1286 - 1287. [Full Text] [PDF]

				J-M. Vergnon From the authors Eur. Respir. J., December 1, 2006; 28(6): 1287 - 1287. [Full Text] [PDF]