Therapeutic bronchoscopy extends beyond diagnostics, offering minimally invasive management of central airway obstruction, bleeding, foreign bodies, and tumors. Two advanced modalities are:
1. Cryotherapy / Cryo-extraction
2. Electrosurgical accessories (e.g., electrocautery probes, hot biopsy forceps, snares)
These tools are used in rigid or flexible bronchoscopy, depending on the indication and patient status.
Cryotherapy involves applying extremely cold temperatures (typically –70°C to –89°C using N₂O or CO₂) via a cryo-probe to freeze tissue.
Debulking of endobronchial tumors
Cryo-extraction of:
Blood clots
Foreign bodies
Mucus plugs
Palliative treatment in obstructive lung cancer
Airway recanalization
Tissue sampling (cryobiopsy)
Electrosurgery uses high-frequency electrical current for cutting, coagulating, or vaporizing tissue via flexible bronchoscopy.
Endobronchial tumors (benign/malignant)
Hemostasis for active bleeding
Granulation tissue removal
Polypectomy
Stent-related overgrowth cauterization