Use of endoscopically placed expandable nitinol tracheal stents in the treatment of tracheal stenosis.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the potential utility of a new endoscopically placed expandable tracheal stent in the treatment of benign symptomatic stenoses of the cervical trachea.


METHODS
Pilot study utilizing a prospectively followed case series.


METHODS
An initial group of six patients undergoing stent placement was examined with rigid and flexible endoscopy under anesthesia immediately following stent placement and at postoperative 6 to 8 weeks. Subsequently each patient was followed clinically for a minimum of 6 months.


RESULTS
All stents were well tolerated with no observed complications. Immediate reversal of symptomatic airway obstruction without the need for adjunctive tracheotomy was noted in every patient. At 6 weeks, endoscopic confirmation of complete intraluminal mucosalization without formation of any granulation tissue or scar bands within the stented areas was noted in each case.


CONCLUSIONS
This preliminary pilot study supports the use of nitinol expandable tracheal stents as an alternative in the treatment of benign symptomatic tracheal stenoses.
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at the University of Texas South Western Medical Center in Dallas, USA.
Y
Y
Ducic
R S
RS
Khalafi
D000328:Adult; D000497:Alloys; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015607:Stents / Q000009:adverse effects; D014135:Tracheal Stenosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*
D000497:Alloys; C013616:nitinol