Possibilities and indications for Nd-YAG laser and dilation therapy in the management of tracheal stenosis.

The possibilities for therapeutic bronchoscopy have rapidly expanded during the last decade. Several techniques can be used exclusively or complementary to each other: dilation therapy, Nd-YAG laser photoresection and endobronchial stent insertion. This armamentarium can be used in several forms of tracheal stenosis, both benign and malignant. In post-intubation injuries and other benign conditions it can be a definitive treatment. In neoplastic tracheal stenoses, these procedures allow the time needed for proper staging and sometimes surgical resection, or very valuable palliation in well selected patients with inoperable disease.