title: [Management of benign tracheal stenosis by intubation dilatation under flexible bronchoscopic guidance].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy and safety of intubation dilatation under flexible bronchoscopic guidance in the management of benign tracheal stenosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective analysis of the clinical data was performed for 12 patients with benign tracheal stenosis from March 2010 to August 2011. There were 5 males and 7 females with a mean age of 37 ± 11 years old (range: 27 - 65). They were treated by intubation dilatation with different sizes under bronchoscopic guidance. And balloon dilatation was also performed for left or right main stem bronchial stenosis. And metal stents were implanted if necessary. Airway diameter, dyspnea index, complications and blood gas analysis were evaluated in all patients. And the forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV(1)) was tested in 9 cases before and after the treatments of intubation dilation, balloon dilation and other interventions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One to five attempts of intubation dilation were required to achieve satisfactory dilatation. There was immediate postoperative relief of dyspnea for all 12 cases. And PaO2 and SaO2 rose markedly, but PaCO2 declined after intervention. The effective rate of intubation dilation was 100%. The average airway diameter increased from (5.7 ± 1.2) to (12.2 ± 2.1) mm and FEV(1) improved from (0.67 ± 0.13) to (1.73 ± 0.37) L (P < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The minimally invasive management of benign tracheal stenosis with intubation dilatation is both safe and efficacious.
authors.affiliation: Respiratory Department, First Affiliated Hospital, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, China.
authors.forename: Wen-tao
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yang-bao
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.forename: Guang-nan
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Si-ming
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Yun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ling
authors.forename: Jian-quan
authors.initials: JQ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xiao-ning
authors.initials: XN
authors.lastname: Zhong
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001999:Bronchoscopy; D004106:Dilatation / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007440:Intubation / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014135:Tracheal Stenosis / Q000601:surgery*