Photodynamic therapy - A case series demonstrating its role in patients receiving mechanical ventilation

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has long been used to treat cancers within the t racheobronchial tree. There have been many reports about the use of PDT for the treatment of carcinoma in situ and for obstructive endobronchial lesio ns. PDT has not been previously reported in patients receiving mechanical v entilation. PDT offers the advantages of a relatively short duration of tre atment, a low side effect profile, and relatively low risk when compared to Nd-YAG laser in patients receiving mechanical ventilation. We report the f irst successful use of PDT to wean patients from mechanical ventilation.