• Alfredo Jalilie, Juan Carlos Carvajal, Rodrigo Aparicio, and Manuel Meneses.
• Departamento de Enfermedades respiratorias y broncoscopia intervencionista, Clínica Santa María, Santiago, Chile, ajalilie@clinicasantamaria.cl.
• Rev Med Chil. 2016 Nov 1; 144 (11): 1417-1423.

BackgroundCentral airway obstruction caused by malignant or benign lesions, associated in some cases with hemoptysis, is a condition with high morbidity and mortality. The use of electrocautery by flexible bronchoscopy is an initial treatment option with immediate improvement of obstruction symptoms. It is as effective as Nd: YAG laser.AimTo describe the usefulness of electrocautery in the management of central obstruction of the airway and hemoptysis.Material And MethodsA retrospective, descriptive study of patients referred for management of central airway obstruction or associated hemoptysis. Diagnoses, symptoms (dyspnea, cough, and hemoptysis) and radiology before and after the procedures were analyzed.ResultsEighteen patients aged 59 ± 12 years (66% males) were evaluated, registering 25 endoscopic procedures. Three conditions were found: partial or complete airway obstruction, hemoptysis and post lung transplant bronchial stenosis. Seventy two percent presented with dyspnea, 61% with cough and 33% with hemoptysis. Sixty six percent of patients had airway obstruction caused by malignant metastatic lesions. After electrocautery, 17 patients (94.4%) improved their symptoms and achieved complete airway clearing. Three patients had significant bronchial stenosis after lung transplant achieving subsequent clearing after electrocautery.ConclusionsElectrocautery during flexible bronchoscopy is an effective and safe procedure for the management of central airway obstruction and associated hemoptysis.

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