title: Late complications of nickel-titanium alloy stent in tracheal stenosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate and treat the late complications of using nickel-titanium alloy stents in laryngotracheal, bronchial, and esophageal stenosis patients who developed severe laryngotracheal stenosis (SLS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective clinical study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirteen patients with SLS or tracheoesophageal fistula secondary to insertion of a nickel-titanium alloy stent for treatment of laryngotracheal, bronchial, or esophageal stenosis treated between May 2004 and March 2010 were retrospectively analyzed. Of the 13 total patients, nine had one stent placed, and four had two stents placed. The late complications observed were glottic and/or subglottic extension of cervical tracheal stenosis (n = 6), new stricture of the thoracic trachea (n = 4), severe left bronchial stricture with massive left pulmonary collapse (n = 1), and cervical tracheoesophageal fistula (n = 2).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Six patients with glottic and/or subglottic to cervical tracheal stenosis underwent successful laryngotracheal reconstruction. Two patients with subglottic and upper thoracic tracheal stenosis were successfully treated by staged operation for the stenosis. Two patients with subglottic and distal thoracic tracheal stenosis are still undergoing treatment. One patient with severe left bronchial stricture and massive left pulmonary collapse has been treated but has not achieved full recovery. One patient with cervical tracheoesophageal fistula underwent successful repair but died later from metastatic disease. One patient with tracheoesophageal fistula died from massive hemorrhage and asphyxiation induced by the stent, which had not been removed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The nickel-titanium alloy stents should be used with extreme caution in patients with laryngotracheal, bronchial, or esophageal stenosis treatment that can be corrected by surgical therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Tang Du Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xian, Shanxi, China. chenwx@fmmu.edu.cn
authors.forename: Wenxian
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yanyan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ruan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000497:Alloys; D001999:Bronchoscopy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009532:Nickel / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015607:Stents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013997:Time Factors; D014025:Titanium / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014135:Tracheal Stenosis / Q000601:surgery*; D014138:Tracheoesophageal Fistula / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000497:Alloys; C040654:titanium nickelide; D009532:Nickel; D014025:Titanium