Endoscopic laser therapy for respiratory distress due to obstructive airway tumors.

Neodymium-YAG laser therapy for unresectable malignant airway obstructions has a promising future. Nine patients with moderate to severe respiratory distress all experienced rapid relief of dyspnea and substantial improvement in pulmonary function within hours to days after treatment with laser phototherapy. The quality of life and survival was improved in otherwise hopeless cases. A nonfatal case of pneumothorax was the only major complication.