Laser bronchoscopy: experience at Siriraj Hospital.

Laser bronchoscopy is a major procedure employed in intervention bronchoscopy. From August 1998 to August 2000, 20 patients with endobronchial lesions were treated by this procedure in the Respiratory and Tuberculosis Division of the Department of Internal Medicine, Siriraj Hospital. Of 16 malignant lesion, a good response was obtained in 78 per cent (7 out of 9) of lesions in the proximal right main bronchus with failure to open any of the 3 completely obstructed lesions at the left distal bronchus. The results of treatment of malignant lesions in the trachea and carina were acceptable. Good results were obtained from all 4 benign endobronchial obstructions. No complications arose in this study. This small series demonstrates the benefit of laser bronchoscopy in patients with high risk endobronchial obstructive lesions.