Management of Endobronchial Lesions by the Use of Electrocoagulation

Abstract

Objectives: Therapeutic bronchoscopy accounts for more than half of all bronchoscopies. Bronchoscopic electrocautery employs alternating electrical current to produce coagulation and vaporization of endobronchial lesions. Argon plasma coagulator is also used to accomplish electrocautery therapy. The advantages of electrocautery. include less expensive equipment (compared with lasers) and the ease of use through flexible or rigid bronchoscopes. The non-contact feature of APC allows rapid coagulation with minimal manipulation of, and mechanical trauma to the target tissue.

Methods: Twenty patients who were previously diagnosed with various tracheobronchial lesions, who did not prove to have any contraindication for endobronchial intervention, were subjected to endobronchial electrocauterization after complete history taking, physical examination, lab investigations, radiological examination & diagnostic bronchoscopy were done.APC was done to 13 cases, while the remaining 7 patients received electrocoagulation with the contact mode.

Results: The overall outcome of this study was that seventeen patients were palliated, two patients were cured by the electrocoagulation procedure only, and one patient was cured by the aid of bronchoscopic electrocoagulation together with medical treatment.

Conclusion: Bronchoscopic Electrocoagulation, using the contact or non­ contact modes, proved to be effective and safe in treatment of symptoms of central endobronchial lesions especially haemoptysis and dyspnea, either aiming at cure or palliation of the case. Its cost effectiveness as compared to other interventional procedures and its easy use through the flexible bronchoscope makes it a favorable technique, in both elective and emergency cases.