trūFreeze cryotherapy is a non-contact ablation technology and regenerative therapeutic treatment for benign and malignant airway disease. Liquid Nitrogen Spray Cryotherapy (LNSC) can minimize scarring and fibrosis when combined with other complementary therapies, such as balloon dilation by bronchoscopy, to treat tracheal and bronchial stenosis. Studies have shown significant improvement in preserving airway patency and often a more extended period before reintervention when cryotherapy is utilized. The extremely cold nature of Liquid Nitrogen (LN2) can also help control bleeding in malignant tumor debulking.
The truFreeze System, in conjunction with the Aire PV™ catheter, may be used for passive venting procedures for both benign and malignant pulmonary clinical applications. Select a specific pulmonary application to learn more about spray cryotherapy treatment:
Tracheal & Bronchial Stenosis
trūFreeze spray cryotherapy is a non-contact and regenerative therapeutic treatment for benign airway diseases such as tracheal and bronchial stenosis. Studies have shown that cryotherapy combined with balloon dilation significantly improved luminal caliber and often a more extended period before reintervention.
Case Report – Concentric Tracheal Stenosis
After a lengthy intubation, the patient experienced the insidious onset of dyspnea and presented with stridor and hemoptysis. During treatment for hemoptysis, a benign concentric growth restricting the trachea to 7mm diameter (60% obstructed) was discovered.12
Four months after the first procedure, the airway measures 14mm (82% patent); the patient is asymptomatic and requires no intervention. Learn more about treating tracheal stenosis with spray cryotherapy with the studies provided in the references section of this page.1, 2
Liquid Nitrogen Spray Cryotherapy (LNSC) is a non-contact cryoablation that uses rapid freezing and thawing of tissue to cause cellular death and can help manage bleeding when treating airway malignancies.3
An emerging application for cryotherapy is treating Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis (RRP), a rare disorder characterized by the development of small, wart-like growths (papillomas) in the respiratory tract that can be challenging to treat.
In one case study, the patient was treated with debridement followed by multiple cryotherapy treatments, resulting in the resolution of symptoms.4, 5
Tim Cox shares how trūFreeze® Cryotherapy "gave him his life back." Tim experienced severe bronchial stenosis following a double lung transplant. His quality of life was low due to the frequent bronchoscopies, stents, and dilation treatments.
Listen as Tim explains how he has hope again following his Spray Cryotherapy procedures. His Interventional Pulmonologist has removed all five stents, and Tim is breathing better with longer intervals between treatments.
An emerging application for cryotherapy is treating leukoplakia of the vocal cords. In this case, the abstract accepted at the World Congress of Bronchoscopy, spray cryotherapy was used to treat hyperkeratosis and leukoplakia of the bilateral vocal folds.
View the first report of endoscopic Spray Cryotherapy (SCT) use in treating severe vocal fold leukoplakia.
The truFreeze system is an ablation technology that ablates benign and malignant tissue to improve and preserve airway patency. Liquid nitrogen spray cryotherapy offers the following clinical benefits:
Improved Airway Patency: Studies have shown significant improvement in luminal caliber and often a
longer period before reintervention7, 8, 9
Regenerative Healing Response: Promotes non-scarring wound healing and normal tissue regrowth7, 9, 10
Non-Contact: Ablate tissue of various shapes, nodularities, and sizes and treat more significant areas of tissue
relative to contact therapies7
Hemostasis: Extreme cold controls bleeding and causes vascular stasis7,8,9
Liquid nitrogen can minimize scarring and fibrosis and may not adversely affect complementary therapies, including stents, balloons, and blood thinners, providing greater treatment flexibility without limiting future therapeutic options.8
Training is available for physicians and clinical staff interested in using trūFreeze spray cryotherapy in the airway. We offer hands-on training in Cleveland, OH, or a physician proctor can support your first-patient treatments at your facility. Our regional Clinical Specialists are available to provide case support for your staff.
Training is provided for all new users to ensure physicians and clinical staff utilizing the truFreeze® console in conjunction with the Aire PV™ catheter are comfortable using the equipment to safely deliver liquid nitrogen into the airway via the passive venting method.
Use the videos and guides or request an in-service for additional training information.
To contact Service Technical Support, please call 800-769-8226.
With the help of trūFreeze Spray Cryotherapy treatments, hear how Tim Cox improved his quality of life after severe bronchial stenosis following a double lung transplant.
Treating Squamous Cell Esophageal Cancer
Learn how trūFreeze Spray Cryotherapy helped Harold regain control over his life after a Stage 4 metastatic esophageal cancer diagnosis.
Spray cryotherapy (SCT): institutional evolution of techniques and clinical practice from early experience in the treatment of malignant airway disease (Link) https://jtd.amegroups.com/article/view/6165/html
Adams, Alexandra and Steiner, Federico. Use of Cryotherapy to Treat Obstructing Papilloma of an Accessory Tracheal Bronchus: Case Report. Journal of Cardiothoracic Surgery. Oct 2022, 17(273). DOI: 10.1186/s13019-022-01977-6
Browning, R., Turner Jr., J, Parrish, S. “Spray Cryotherapy (SCT): Institutional Evolution of Techniques and Clinical Practice from Early Experience in the Treatment of Malignant Airway Disease”. Journal of Thoracic Disease 2015: Volume 7, Supplement 4, pS405-S414. http://jtd.amegroups.com/article/view/6165/html
Moore, RF, Abbas, AE, et. al. “Current status of spray cryotherapy for airway disease”. Journal of Thoracic Disease. J Thorac Dis 2017;9(Suppl2):S122-S129. http://dx.doi.org/10.21037/jtd.2017.01.55
Krimsky WS, et al. “Bronchoscopic Spray Cryotherapy: Assessment of Safety and Depth of Airway Injury”. The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery. 2010: Volume 139, Issue 3, p781-782.
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