[Endoscopic interventions in the tracheobronchial system].

Abstract

Therapeutic bronchoscopy is widely used in the treatment of airway stenosis, fistula, and pulmonary bleeding. Recanalisation of tracheobronchial stenoses can be treated by Nd: YAG-laser or stent implantation. While the use of laser irradiation is limited to intraluminal obstruction, stenting is also effective in stenoses due to extraluminal compression. Stent implantation has also become the method of choice in the treatment of tracheobronchial fistulas. A more specific strategy in the treatment of malignant lesions is photodynamic therapy. By use of photosensitizers and subsequent irradiation tumor cells can be destroyed selectively. Gene therapy represents a promising new approach in tumor therapy. After retrovirus-mediated gene transfer of a suppressor gene an increase of tumor cell apoptosis was observed. Altogether interventional pneumology has experienced substantial enlargement of therapeutic possibilities.