title: Removal of long-term tracheal stents with excellent tracheal healing.
abstract: Covered metallic endobronchial stents are increasingly used in the management of diverse large airway pathology and once deployed they are considered permanent. Long-term complications of stent fracture and airway granulation tissue formation may necessitate stent removal. We describe successful endoscopic removal of the Ultraflex expandable tracheal metallic stents (Microvasive; Boston Scientific, Natick, MA) in 5 patients at 105, 84, 50, 38, and 21 months after deployment, with excellent tracheal healing and clearance of granulation tissue noted at 6 weeks after removal in each patient.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, St. George's Hospital, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Harpreet
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ranu
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: Abhijat
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sheth
authors.forename: Brendan P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Madden
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001999:Bronchoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D020878:Device Removal / Q000379:methods*; D004868:Equipment Failure; D005260:Female; D006097:Granulation Tissue / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012086:Reoperation; D015607:Stents; D014132:Trachea / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D014134:Tracheal Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D014135:Tracheal Stenosis / Q000628:therapy*; D014139:Tracheostomy / Q000009:adverse effects; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible