Feasibility, Safety, and Usefulness of Bronchoscopic Cryotechnique in Management of Endobronchial Lesions

Mahfouz, Omar Tarek; Shalaby, Alaa El-Dein Omar; Mohamed, Sabah Ahmed; Boghdady, Shazly Ahmed

doi:10.21608/aumj.2025.386196.1237

	Feasibility, Safety, and Usefulness of Bronchoscopic Cryotechnique in Management of Endobronchial Lesions
Aswan University Medical Journal
Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available Online from 05 July 2025
Document Type: Original Article
DOI: 10.21608/aumj.2025.386196.1237
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Authors
Omar Tarek Mahfouz ¹; Alaa El-Dein Omar Shalaby²; Sabah Ahmed Mohamed²; Shazly Ahmed Boghdady¹
¹Chest diseases and Tuberculosis department, Faculty of Medicine, Aswan University
²Chest diseases and Tuberculosis department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University
Abstract
Background: Endobronchial lesions can cause significant airway obstruction and pose diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. Bronchoscopic cryotherapy, a minimally invasive technique that uses extreme cold to ablate pathological tissue, is increasingly used for both diagnostic and palliative purposes. Objective: To evaluate the feasibility, safety, and therapeutic outcomes of bronchoscopic cryotechnique in managing endobronchial lesions at Kasr Al Ainy Hospital, Cairo University. Methods: This prospective study included 68 patients with endoscopically visible endobronchial lesions. Depending on clinical indication, patients underwent cryobiopsy or cryotherapy (cryoablation or cryorecanalization) via flexible bronchoscopy. Outcomes assessed included airway patency, symptom relief, and complications. Results: The mean age was 36.9 ± 20 years, with 63.2% males. Complete airway recanalization was achieved in 77.9% of cases, partial in 17.7%, and failure occurred in 4.4%. Significant symptomatic improvement in cough, dyspnea, and hemoptysis was noted (p < 0.05). The procedure was generally well-tolerated; bleeding occurred in 35.3% of cases, while serious complications were rare. Conclusion: Bronchoscopic cryotherapy is a safe and effective intervention for endobronchial lesions, offering substantial symptomatic relief with minimal risk. It represents a valuable palliative option for non-surgical patients with obstructive airway lesions.
Keywords
Interventional Pulmonology; Cryoprobe Technique; Thermal Ablation; Endoscopic Airway Management; Minimally Invasive Procedures


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