Endobronchial cryotherapy facilitates end-stage treatment options in patients with bronchial stenosis: A case series

Gerard J. Fitzmaurice, Karen C. Redmond, David A. Fitzpatrick,¹ and Waldemar Bartosik

Ann Thorac Med. 2014 Apr-Jun; 9(2): 120–123.

Abstract

In keeping with international trends, lung cancer incidence and mortality are increasing among the Irish population with many patients presenting with advanced disease that excludes the potential for curative management. Consequently palliative treatment options for this patient group are being increasingly explored with various degrees of success. Endobronchial stenosis represents a particularly challenging area of management among these patients and a number of techniques have been described without the identification of a single gold standard. We report our experience of the first time use of endobronchial cryotherapy in Ireland with reference to a case series, including an example of its use in the management of benign disease, in order to support patients with borderline lung function and enable definitive palliative treatment.

Keywords: Bronchial stenosis, cryotherapy, lung cancer, lung transplant, palliative management