ND-YAG LASER AS A PALLIATIVE TREATMENT FOR MALIGNANT DYSPHAGIA

Two hundred and twenty-four patients with histologically-confirmed car cinoma of the oesophagus received palliative Nd-YAG laser therapy for malignant dysphagia between January 1986 and December 1994. The result s are appraised in terms of the degree of relief obtained, its relatio n to the macroscopic type and the size of the tumour, peri-operative c omplications, duration of hospitalization and survival after treatment , Recannulation of the oesophageal lumen was obtained in 98.2% of the patients, after which 93.7% were able to ingest at least semi-solids. Although the lumen was permeable for a 9.8 mm endoscope, the remainder could only ingest liquids, The only complication was a perforation in six cases (2.7%). After treatment, 14.8% survived more than 1 year an d 3.4% more than 2 Sears, After discussing the role of lasers in the p alliative treatment of malignant dysphagia, the authors conclude that it can be considered effective in that it relieves the dysphagia and i mproves the patients' quality of life.