BACKGROUND: Endoscopic treatment of malignant central @entity1224 usually is done for palliation. The exact role of such a procedure as preparatory to operation remains controversial. METHODS: From 1987 through 1996, 24 @entity1 at our institution underwent @entity19926 pulmonary resection after preliminary endoscopic treatment. During the same period, 304 @entity1 underwent 449 operative rigid bronchoscopies for @entity1224 , most involving the use of a @entity3278 :yttrium- @entity3775 -garnet laser. The indications for operation were @entity957 in 14 @entity1 , @entity5 in 8 @entity1 , and @entity3557 infiltrating the @entity825 in 2 @entity1 . The total resection rate was @entity19 % for @entity957 , 75% for low-grade malignant @entity5 , and 75% for @entity3557 ). The median period between operative rigid bronchoscopy and operation was 18 days. RESULTS: No complications were observed after endoscopic treatment. There were two perioperative @entity204 (adult @entity649 after carinal resection and @entity1151 after pneumonectomy) and one major complication (poor postoperative pulmonary function after pneumonectomy). No anastomotic complications were observed in the tracheobronchoplastic procedures. Follow-up was possible in every @entity1 but 1: 6 @entity1 died at a median of 30.5 months after operation (range, 3 to 46 months), 2 @entity1 are alive with disease, and the rest are alive without evidence of disease at a median of 21 months (range, 2 to 61 months). CONCLUSIONS: Most @entity1 who require endoscopic therapy for @entity1224 are not candidates for operative resection. Preliminary endoscopic relief of obstruction can increase operability and improve surgical results in a highly selected group of @entity1 .

Resection with curative intent after endoscopic treatment of XXXX .

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients', 'patient'] @entity3278 :: ('MESH:D009354', 'Chemical') :: ['neodymium'] @entity3775 :: ('MESH:D000535', 'Chemical') :: ['aluminum'] @entity3557 :: ('MESH:C536915', 'Disease') :: ['papillary thyroid cancer'] @entity825 :: ('MESH:D055090', 'Disease') :: ['trachea'] @entity19926 :: ('MESH:C566362', 'Disease') :: ['tracheobronchial'] @entity5 :: ('MESH:D009369', 'Disease') :: ['bronchial tumors', 'bronchial gland tumors'] @entity957 :: ('MESH:D002294', 'Disease') :: ['squamous cell carcinoma'] @entity19 :: ('10090', 'Species') :: ['9.5% (5'] @entity649 :: ('MESH:D012128', 'Disease') :: ['respiratory distress syndrome'] @entity1151 :: ('MESH:D011655', 'Disease') :: ['pulmonary embolism'] @entity204 :: ('MESH:D003643', 'Disease') :: ['deaths'] @entity1224 :: ('MESH:D000402', 'Disease') :: ['malignant airway obstructions', 'airway obstructions']
@entity1224 :: (MESH:D000402,Disease) :: ['airway obstruction']
