Anesthesia for pulmonary stent insertion

To familiarize anesthesiologists with recent advances in endoscopic pulmonary stenting. These interventions have replaced surgical procedures for the relief of central airway obstructions.

A pulmonary stent can provide immediate relief of symptoms and improvement in pulmonary function for both intrinsic and extrinsic airway lesions. The current indications for the use of both silicone-rubber stents and expandable metal stents are reviewed. Considerations for the anesthetic management of patients undergoing pulmonary stent placement are also discussed.

Tracheo-bronchial stenting procedures are being employed with increasing frequency. The practicing anesthesiologist must be familiar with the management of patients undergoing airway stenting procedures.