title: A novel approach to tracheostomal collapse: the use of an endoluminal Palmaz stent.
abstract: There are a number of surgical treatments for tracheostomal collapse of the pediatric airway. The techniques include tracheoplasty with costal cartilage graft, the placement of a tracheostomy tube and partial tracheal resection and primary tracheal anastomosis to name a few. Since each child may possess unique medical and social factors in additional to the tracheal pathology, the surgical approach must be individualized. A case history of a 1-year-old Vietnamese child with a tracheostomal collapse is presented. In this case, an endoluminal Palmaz stent was placed endoscopically to support the collapsed tracheal segment for 3 months. After 3 months, the stent was removed, and the child has done well without any airway intervention for 2 years. The indications for this novel approach, the technique of insertion and removal of the stent are the focus of this paper.
authors: Department of Otolaryngology, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, IL 60153, USA.
authors: A H
authors: AH
authors: Park
authors: R
authors: R
authors: MacDonald
authors: V
authors: V
authors: Forte
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Filler
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D015607:Stents; D014132:Trachea / Q000293:injuries; D014139:Tracheostomy; D014951:Wounds, Stab / Q000628:therapy