Treatment of tracheobronchial obstruction with a polytetrafluoroethylene-covered retrievable expandable nitinol stent.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the clinical effectiveness of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)-covered retrievable expandable nitinol stents in tracheobronchial strictures.


METHODS
With fluoroscopic guidance, PTFE-covered retrievable expandable nitinol stents were placed in 15 symptomatic patients with benign (n = 6) or malignant (n = 9) tracheobronchial strictures. Complications and improvement in respiratory status were evaluated. Stents were removed electively 6 months after placement in benign strictures or if complications occurred. Membrane degradation or separation from the wire mesh was evaluated in removed stents.


RESULTS
A total of 17 stents were successfully placed and were well tolerated in all patients. Sputum retention, stent migration, and tissue hyperplasia occurred in 23.5% (n = 4), 17.6% (n = 3), and 17.6% (n = 3) of stents, respectively. A total of 11 stents were successfully removed electively 6 months after placement (n = 4) or when complications occurred (n = 7). All 11 such stents were removed without difficulty with use of standard techniques, antecedent balloon dilation being necessary in two cases as a result of tissue hyperplasia. No removed stent showed signs of membrane degradation, and two removed stents showed signs of membrane separation from the mesh.


CONCLUSIONS
PTFE-covered retrievable expandable nitinol stents were effective in the treatment of tracheobronchial strictures. Stent removal was easy with use of standard techniques, and no removed stent showed evidence of membrane degradation.
Shin
Ji Hoon
JH
Department of Radiology and the Research Institute of Radiology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, 388-1, Pungnap-2dong, Songpa-gu, Seoul, 138-736, Korea.
Song
Ho-Young
HY
Ko
Gi Young
GY
Shim
Tae-Sun
TS
Kim
Sang Wee
SW
Cho
Young Kwon
YK
Ko
Heung-Kyu
HK
Kim
Yong Jae
YJ
Yoon
Hyun-Ki
HK
Sung
Kyu-Bo
KB
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000497:Alloys; D001982:Bronchial Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy; D020878:Device Removal; D005260:Female; D005471:Fluoroscopy; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene; D015641:Radiography, Interventional; D015607:Stents; D014135:Tracheal Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000497:Alloys; C013616:nitinol; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene