Airway stents in management of tracheal stenosis: have we improved?

Airway stenting is an alternative approach for relieving airway stenosis when lesions are inappropriate for single-stage reconstruction. The aim of this study was to present our experience using airway stent in the management of patients with tracheal stenosis.

This study retrospectively reviewed 45 patients who underwent airway stenting during a 2-year period. Between June 2002 and August 2004, 45 patients underwent rigid bronchoscopy for tracheal stenosis using an Ultraflex stent (Microvasive; Boston Scientific, Boston, MA, USA), Hood stent (Hood Laboratories, Pembroke, MA, USA) and Montgomery T-tube (Boston Medical, Westborough, MA, USA). Clinical improvement, intraoperative, early and late postoperative complications were evaluated.

Ultraflex stent was used in 14 patients, Hood stent in 9 and Montgomery T-tube in 22. The overall clinical improvement was 95.5%. Four per cent of the patients (2/45) had intraoperative complications, 8.8% (4/45) had early postoperative complications and 51% (23/45) had late postoperative complications. No significant difference was determined between stent type and complication rates.

Rigid bronchoscopic insertion of airway stents for tracheal stenosis is a safe and effective procedure. No difference exists between stent type and clinical improvement, intraoperative and early and late postoperative complications.