Self-expanding stent made of polyester mesh with silicon coating (Polyflex) in the treatment of inoperable tracheal stenoses.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the Polyflex stent in terms of its efficacy, ease of implantation, and complications in patients with tracheobronchial affections.


METHODS
This was a prospective study, in which sixteen patients with inoperable tracheal stenosis secondary to orotracheal intubation (n = 12), neoplasia (n = 3), or Wegener's granulomatosis (n = 1) were monitored. Of these patients, eleven were women, and five were men. The mean age was 42.8 years (range, 21-72 years). Patients were submitted to implantation of a total of 21 Polyflex stents. All procedures were carried out in the operating room under general anesthesia, and the stents were implanted via suspension laryngoscopy using the stent applicator.


RESULTS
Stents were implanted and symptoms were resolved in all cases. The stents remained in place for a mean period of 7.45 months, ranging from 2 to 18 months. The complications observed in the immediate postoperative period were dysphonia (in two patients, 12.5%) and odynophagia (in two patients, 12.5%). Late complications were cough (in ten patients, 62.5%), migration (in seven patients, 43.75%), granuloma formation (in two patients, 12.5%), and pneumonia (in one patient, 6.25%).


CONCLUSIONS
The Polyflex stent is easily implanted, easily removed, well tolerated by patients and effective in resolving symptoms. However, its use is associated with a high rate of migration, especially in patients with post-orotracheal intubation stenosis.
Terra
Ricardo Mingarini
RM
Serviço de Cirurgia Torácica, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil. rmterra@uol.com.br
Minamoto
Helio
H
Tedde
Miguel Lia
ML
Almeida
José Luiz Jesus de
JL
Jatene
Fabio Biscegli
FB
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003371:Cough / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005548:Foreign-Body Migration / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012828:Silicones; D015607:Stents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000592:standards*; D013997:Time Factors; D014135:Tracheal Stenosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D012828:Silicones