Successful bronchoscopic placement of tracheobronchial stents without fluoroscopy.
BACKGROUND
Tracheobronchial stenting is performed increasingly often. Fluoroscopic control, which leads to significant radiation exposure for patients and staff, is recommended for the placement of metal stents.


METHODS
All consecutive patients referred to two airway centers in need of airway stenting who received stents (Ultraflex; Boston Scientific, Natick, MA) underwent placement using endoscopic guidance only. All data were collected in an ongoing continuous database.


RESULTS
One hundred stents were placed in 96 patients for central airway obstruction, and the data were reviewed. Stents were placed in all locations within the central airways for a variety of indications but mainly for malignant obstruction. No complications occurred, and all stents were placed satisfactorily.


CONCLUSIONS
At centers with dedicated airway teams, Ultraflex stents can be quickly and safely inserted without the need for fluoroscopy. This saves radiation exposure to patients and to staff and may lead to a more cost-effective procedure.
Herth
F
F
Thoraxklinik, Heidelberg, Germany.
Becker
H D
HD
LoCicero
J
J
Thurer
R
R
Ernst
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000628:therapy; D001980:Bronchi; D001999:Bronchoscopy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015607:Stents; D014132:Trachea