[Tracheal stent implantation for the treatment of tumor-induced acute airway stenosis].
OBJECTIVE
Tumor-induced acute airway stenosis is a medical emergency. Metal airway stent implantation can relieve dyspnea of patients suffering from this symptom and provide time for their further treatment. This study was to investigate the clinical application, efficacy, and complication management of tracheal stent implantation for the treatment of tumor-induced acute airway stenosis.


METHODS
Nickel-titanium (Ni-Ti) alloy stent implantation was performed under the guidance of fiber-optic bronchoscopy in 52 patients with tumor-induced acute airway stenosis.


RESULTS
Stent implantation was successful in all 52 patients. Dyspnea in all patients was significantly relieved. Values of arterial partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2), arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2), and Karnofsky performance status (KPS) changed from (7.74+/-0.99) kPa, (5.37+/-0.39) kPa, and (68.85+/-8.08) preoperatively to (11.12+/-0.61) kPa, (4.58+/-0.30) kPa, and (84.62+/-5.03) postoperatively (P<0.01). The three-year survival rate was higher in lymphoma group than in lung cancer or esophageal cancer group. Postoperative complications were properly managed in all cases after symptomatic treatments.


CONCLUSIONS
Tracheal stent implantation is an effective palliative treatment for acute dyspnea caused by local tumor compression or tumor invasion of large airways. It can rescue patients at risk for airway obstruction, improve the quality of life in terminal cancer patients, and provide further treatment opportunities for them.
Ma
Gang
G
State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangzhou, Guangdong, P. R. China. sunnygma@163.com
Wang
Dao-Fang
DF
Su
Quan-Guan
QG
Lou
Ning
N
Zhu
Zi-Wei
ZW
Fu
Jian-Hua
JH
Xu
Mei-Xi
MX
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001784:Blood Gas Analysis; D001999:Bronchoscopy; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009532:Nickel; D010166:Palliative Care; D011788:Quality of Life; D015607:Stents; D015996:Survival Rate; D014025:Titanium; D014135:Tracheal Stenosis / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*
C040654:titanium nickelide; D009532:Nickel; D014025:Titanium