Right upper lobe 'window' in right main bronchus stenting.
Stent insertion for bronchial stenosis has become common practice in lung transplantation and advanced lung malignancy, and for external compression of the airways for other reasons. Right main bronchus stenting may require blocking the right upper lobe by the stent, placing the patient at risk of recurrent pneumonia and atelectasis. In this study, three patients after insertion of a metal stent to the right main bronchus are described. In all cases, the right upper lobe was covered by the stent, and a laser (Nd:YAG) procedure was used to open a 'window' in the stent toward the right upper lobe with a follow-up of 1 year. We conclude that stent insertion to the right main bronchus may be followed by a laser therapy to open a 'window' toward the right upper lobe.
Peled
Nir
N
Pulmonary Institute, Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Campus, Petah Tiqwa 49100, Israel; Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Shitrit
David
D
Bendayan
Daniele
D
Kramer
Mordechai R
MR
D001980:Bronchi / Q000601:surgery*; D001982:Bronchial Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007834:Lasers; D016040:Lung Transplantation; D008206:Lymphatic Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011654:Pulmonary Edema / Q000601:surgery; D015607:Stents