Palliative management of XXXX .

@entity1 @entity4906 @entity3775 @entity5 @entity1168 @entity1224
BACKGROUND: Obstruction of the airway due to unresectable @entity5 is a frightening condition that portends a poor prognosis. Endobronchial treatment modalities were reviewed to determine the most effective management strategy. METHODS: A 12-year retrospective review (1988 to 1999) of 121 consecutive @entity1 with inoperable @entity1224 ( @entity1224 ) was performed. Sixty-five @entity1 received @entity1168 ( @entity1168 ) alone, 32 received @entity1168 plus neodymium:yttrium- @entity3775 garnet laser (YAG) therapy, 16 received YAG only, 4 @entity1 were stented, and 4 received photodynamic therapy (PDT). Follow-up was obtained by chart review and contact. RESULTS: Seventy-seven @entity1 and 44 @entity1 , median age 62 years (range 30 to 86 years), underwent 378 endobronchial procedures for relief of @entity1224 . Good to excellent results were achieved in 77% (93/121) of @entity1 . Seventy-two percent (23/32) of @entity1 undergoing @entity1168 plus YAG received a good to excellent result. All 8 @entity1 receiving either stents or @entity4906 had good to excellent palliation. There were no intraoperative deaths, but there were two in-hospital deaths. Complications occurred in 4% (5/121) of @entity1 . Forty-four percent (53/121) of our @entity1 were lost to follow-up. Mean survival was 6.7 months after the last treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Temporary relief of inoperable @entity1224 can be accomplished with a number of endobronchial treatments used either singularly or in combination. The majority of @entity1 managed with @entity1168 , YAG, or @entity1168 plus YAG received good to excellent short-term palliation.
