Fluoroscopically guided balloon dilation for postintubation tracheal stenosis.
OBJECTIVE
Little was known about the safety and long-term efficacy of fluoroscopically guided balloon dilation for postintubation tracheal stenosis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and long-term efficacy of fluoroscopically guided balloon dilation in patients with postintubation tracheal stenosis.


METHODS
From February 2000 to November 2010, 14 patients underwent fluoroscopically guided balloon dilation for postintubation tracheal stenosis. Technical success, clinical success, and complications were evaluated. Patients were followed up for recurrent symptoms.


RESULTS
In all patients, fluoroscopically guided balloon dilation was technically and clinically successful with no major complications. Following the initial procedure, six patients (43 %) remained asymptomatic during a follow-up period. Obstructive symptoms recurred in eight patients (57 %) within 6 months (mean, 1.7 months), who were treated with repeat balloon dilation (n = 4) and other therapies. Of the four patients who underwent repeat balloon dilation, three became asymptomatic. One patient became asymptomatic after a third balloon dilation. On long-term (mean, 74 months) follow-up, 71 % of patients experienced relief of symptoms following fluoroscopically guided balloon dilation.


CONCLUSIONS
Fluoroscopically guided balloon dilation may be safe, is easy to perform, and resulted in effective treatment in patients with postintubation tracheal stenosis.
Department of Radiology and Research Institute of Radiology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 388-1, Poongnap-2dong, Songpa-gu, Seoul, 138-736, Republic of Korea.
Woong Hee
WH
Lee
Jin Hyoung
JH
Kim
Jung-Hun
JH
Park
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002404:Catheterization / Q000379:methods*; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D005471:Fluoroscopy; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007472:Iohexol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D015641:Radiography, Interventional / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods; D014135:Tracheal Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
D003287:Contrast Media; D007472:Iohexol; C038192:iopromide