Korean J Med.  2014 Jun;86(6):755-760.

Two Cases of Central Airway Obstruction Treated with an Insulation-Tipped Diathermic Knife-2

• Koh KH
• Kim SJ
• Park S
• Chang SH
• Yoo SH
• Koo NH
• Lee SH

Abstract

Central airway obstruction can result from various benign and malignant conditions, and often requires prompt palliation. The efficacies of a variety of bronchoscopic techniques for the treatment of central airway obstruction such as electrocautery, laser, brachytherapy, argon plasma coagulation and cryotherapy have been established. An insulation-tipped diathermic knife-2 (IT knife-2) was initially introduced for gastrointestinal endoscopic submucosal dissection and has been used globally as a safe and effective instrument. However, its use has not been reported for the treatment of endotracheal or endobronchial lesions. Here, we report the case of central airway obstruction in a 65-year-old male due to malignancy and a 52-year-old-female with post-radiation bronchial stenosis that were treated successfully with the IT-knife-2 via flexible bronchoscopy.

Keyword

Bronchoscopy; Central airway obstruction; Lung cancer

MeSH Terms

Aged
Airway Obstruction*
Argon Plasma Coagulation
Brachytherapy
Bronchoscopy
Constriction, Pathologic
Cryotherapy
Electrocoagulation
Humans
Lung Neoplasms
Male