Minimally Invasive Techniques in Thoracic Medicine and Surgery

This volume provides the reader with a comprensive guide to the various minimally invasive techniques that are used in thoracic medicine and surgery. Lasers are the single most useful medium and so receive particular attention. There are major contributions on: laser physics; laser safety; laser tissue interaction; the value of combined or sequential use of the Nd YAG and CO2 lasers with brachytherapy of Stents in the palliation of tracheobronchial tumours; general anaesthetic techniques for laser bronchoscopy; and the use of flourescence tumour detection as an aid to conventional white light diagnosit bronchoscopy. The individual techniques are described by internationally recognized experts in their fields. In the case of the chapters on the photodynamic therapy and brachytherapy the opinions, and experience of experts from different countries are included to give an international perspective on results.