New dedicated bifurcated silicone stent placement for stenosis around the primary right carina

Silicone stenting has been widely used to palliate respiratory symptoms in patients suffering from airway stenosis. Although many types and shapes of stents have been developed, there is no ideal stent for stenosis around the carina between the bronchus to the right upper lobe and the bronchus intermedius (primary right carina). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility, efficacy, and safety of a new silicone stent designed for treating airway stenosis around the primary right carina.

We recruited 16 patients with suspected stenosis around the primary right carina. Ten of the patients met the inclusion criteria for inserting the study stent. All stenting procedures were performed with a rigid and flexible bronchoscope under general anesthesia.

The study stent could be mounted successfully on the primary right carina in all 10 patients. Five patients underwent stenting using only the new stent, and the other five underwent stenting with it on the primary right carina and a silicone Y stent on the main carina. The dyspnea index improved in eight of the 10 patients, including one who was mechanically ventilated. Early complications developed in three patients (temporary pneumonia in two and retention of secretions in one), and late complications occurred in two patients (granuloma formation in one and hemoptysis in one).

Stent placement with the new silicone stent designed to fit on the primary right carina is feasible, effective, and acceptably safe.

UMIN-Clinical Trials Registry; No.: UMIN000001776; URL: www.umin.ac.jp/ctr.