[Experimental study of endotracheal expandable metallic stent placement]

Various types of Gianturco zig-zag wire stents were implanted into the trachea of three dogs in order to evaluate the suitable conditions of the endotracheal wire stent. The stents were constructed of 0.018, 0.016 and 0.013 inch stainless steel wire respectively. The relaxed diameter of the stents was 3.0 cm and their length were 2 cm, 3 cm, and 4 cm respectively. The stent of 2 cm in length and constructed of 0.013 inch showed minimum pathologic changes to the trachea of the dog compared to the other stents, and also showed the covering of ciliated, columnar epithelium over the stent surface. The experimental data showed that it was possible to use the stent in the tracheobronchial tree of dogs and also showed a potential clinical application.