Abstract: Objective To investigate the clinical value of balloon dilatation through fiberoptic bronchoscopy in tuberculous tracheobronchial scar stenosis. Methods11 patients were treated with balloon dilatation through flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy under local anesthesia once a week and repeated 2～4 times continuously. The chest X-ray and CT were used to observe the situation of airway open and pulmonary reexpansion. Before the treatment and immediately after the last operation, airway diameters, dyspnea index, FEV₁ and FVC were evaluated in all patients. ResultsThe average operation time of the balloon dilatation was 2.7 for per patient. After the operation, the bronchus diameter increased obviously, and the symptoms alleviated. The X-ray and CT showed the pulmonary reexpansion. The immediate curative effect reached to 100% and the long-term 90.9%. The bronchus diameter, dyspnea index, FEV₁ and FVC were improved significantly(P＜0.05). ConclusionBronchoplasty with ballnoon dilatation though flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy is a handy, effective and safe method to treat tuberculosis tracheobronchial scar stenosis and can be preferred.

Key words: tuberculosis/complications, tracheal stenosis, balloon dilatation, bronchoscopy