Role of Electrocautery and Argon Plasma Coagulation in Management of Endobronchial Neoplasms

The Aim of the work : To assess the value of electrocautery and argon plasma coagulation in management of neoplastic central airway obstruction.Patient and Methods: 21 patients with central airway obstruction due lung cancer were selected for bronchoscopic electrosurgery procedures. They were 19 males and 2 females, with age range from 23 to 65years with a mean of 50.95±11.87 years were included in this study. Bronchoscopic electrosurgery procedures(electrocautery(EC)and argon plasma coagulation(APC)) were performed under general anesthesia using the flexible fibrotic bronchoscope passing through rigid bronchoscope or endotrchial tube.Collected data included patients’ demographics, evaluation of dyspnea, cough , hemoptysis , performance and quality of life status scales, chest Xray, spirometry,ABG,complications and outcome one day and one week after the end of treatment).