[The CO2 broncholaser in the treatment of subglottic and tracheal stenosis. Apropos of 14 cases].

The authors report the results of CO2 broncholaser treatment in 14 cases of iatrogenic cricotracheal stenosis. A stable patency of the laryngotracheal airway was successfully obtained in 43% of stenoses treated with the broncholaser alone. In another 43% of patients improvement was obtained. Failure occurred in 14% of cases. Heat disruption of the cartilagenous support was the most frequent cause of failure and recurrence. The development of rigid bronchoscopes which can be coupled to CO2 laser would appear to us to be a real technical advance. The apparatus is easy to handle and is increasingly being used as first intention. It has several advantages compared to endoscopic materials used with the YAG laser. The effect of CO2 on the tissues would seem to be better adapted than the YAG for iatrogenic stenoses.