Biodegradable Stents-A New Option for Benign Central Airway Stenosis

Patients diagnosed with benign central airway stenosis who are ineligible for surgical intervention require airway stents. The high complication rates associated with conventional silicone and metallic stents have led to the development of new devices with lower complication rates and easier insertion and removal. This paper presents our results, including the indications, patient characteristics, and outcomes.

We reviewed patients who underwent bronchoscopy for airway stenosis due to a benign cause between January 2015 and February 2023 in the interventional pulmonology unit of a tertiary university hospital. The causes and locations of stenosis, outcomes, and complications were analysed in patients who received a minimum of one biodegradable (BD) stent. All procedures were performed under general anaesthesia using a rigid bronchoscope.

A total of 136 BD stents were implanted at 22 airway sites in 18 patients, with a median age of 56. Thirteen patients, three with prior metal stents and 10 with prior silicone stents, had a history of non-BD stent usage. Twelve procedures (54.5%) used bronchial stents, whereas 10 procedures (45.4%) used tracheal stents. The median duration of BD stent use was 10.6 months (range: 0.1-72.0 months). Early complications included one moderate granulation formation and two dislocations that necessitated stent fixation: one using clips and the other sutured to an additional stent.

The study indicates that BD stents are both safe and feasible for treating benign stenosis, offering a safer alternative to silicone and metallic stents while providing personalised treatment for patients.