Use of balloon-expandable metallic stents in the management of bronchial stenosis and bronchomalacia after lung transplantation.
OBJECTIVE
Bronchial stenosis (BS) and bronchomalacia (BM) are often associated with lung allograft rejection or infection in lung transplant (LT) recipients. We reviewed our experience using balloon-expandable metallic (Palmaz) stents in the management of BS and BM in LT.


METHODS
Retrospective review of cases.


METHODS
LT recipients with bronchoscopic and spirometric evidence of BS and BM.


METHODS
Serial balloon dilation was performed for BS. Stent placement was done for refractory or recurrent BS, or persistent focal BM.


RESULTS
Twelve of 129 LT bronchial anastomoses at risk (9.3%) had complications, which included 11 BS and 5 BM. Four BS were accompanied by BM either concurrently or subsequently. The only isolated BM was associated with acute rejection and resolved after appropriate medical therapy. Balloon dilations alone were successful in relieving BS in three cases. Seven patients received a total of 11 stents. Stents were placed under conscious sedation using a flexible bronchoscope. Five of the seven patients had spirometric improvements after stent placements. One patient had no spirometric improvement, and another died before a follow-up study was done. There were no complications during stent placements. However, complications after stent placements included partial dehiscence of the stent from the bronchial wall, stent migration, partial obstruction of a segmental bronchial orifice by a stent in the main bronchus, and longitudinal stent collapse. One stent was successfully removed using a flexible bronchoscope in the endoscopy suite, and two others were removed by rigid bronchoscopy in the operating room.


CONCLUSIONS
Endobronchial placement of the Palmaz stent in LT recipients is relatively easy, and it can be removed if needed. However, because there are significant potential complications, the future use of this stent as an airway prosthesis in LT remains unclear.
Susanto
I
I
Department of Medicine, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio and The South Texas Veterans Health Care System, Audie L. Murphy Memorial Veterans Hospital Division, 78284-7885, USA. susanto@uthscsa.edu
Peters
J I
JI
Levine
S M
SM
Sako
E Y
EY
Anzueto
A
A
Bryan
C L
CL
D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical / Q000009:adverse effects; D001980:Bronchi / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D001982:Bronchial Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D002404:Catheterization; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D016040:Lung Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015607:Stents; D014797:Vital Capacity