The evolution of airway stenting research: a bibliometric analysis of the 100 most influential articles

Airway stents are indispensable tools in interventional pulmonology for treating central airway obstruction. From early silicone stents to today's biodegradable and three-dimensional (3D)-printed devices, design advances have broadened clinical applications. Nonetheless, migration, granulation, and infection remain frequent complications, which justifies continued investigation. This study conducts a bibliometric analysis of airway stent research. It examined the 100 most-cited articles and examined publication trends, leading contributors, collaboration and co-citation networks, and keyword evolution to map the field's development.

We searched the Web of Science Core Collection [2009-2025] for English-language articles on "airway stents", identifying 1,150 records. The 100 most-cited articles were selected for analysis. We evaluated publication output over time, national and institutional contributions, authorship patterns, co-citation clusters, and keyword co-occurrence.

Annual output peaked in 2010, remained steady throughout the 2010s, and declined during 2020-2022, likely due to pandemic-related disruptions. The United States produced the most highly cited papers (n=28), followed by China (n=19) and the leading European nations (~11 each). Harvard University generated the highest number of influential papers. A small group of prolific authors (e.g., Hervé Dutau, Armin Ernst) produced numerous high-impact studies and formed tight collaborative clusters that bridged North America and Europe. Co-citation analysis highlighted classic references-particularly Saad [2003] and Dumon [1990]-as central hubs linking diverse studies. Keyword evolution showed a transition from early interests in airway obstruction and silicone stents to recent priorities such as 3D-printed, biodegradable, and drug-eluting stents. This shift marks the field's movement from simple palliation toward advanced, patient-specific airway reconstruction.

This bibliometric study provides a comprehensive overview of three decades of airway stenting research. It shows how global collaboration and technological innovation have propelled the field forward. Our findings highlight achievements and remaining gaps. They underscore the need for multicenter collaboration, long-term outcome studies, and continued development of novel stent technologies to improve patient care.