title: Removal of self expandable metallic airway stent: A rare case report.
abstract: Covered self expandable metallic airway stents (SEMS) have been used for benign tracheal stenosis, post intubation tracheal stenosis, tracheal burn or trauma, tracheo-broncho-malacia, and extrinsic compression of trachea. Their placement is considered to be permanent, with open surgery the only way to remove the stent, though there are few cases reports of their removal with the bronchoscope, but the complications after their removal are very high. In our patient, one and a half years after placement of SEMS, she developed cough with dyspnoea, video bronchoscopy showed stenosis above the level of stent with granulation tissue inside the stent, stent fracture in lower part and stent migration to right main bronchus, thus she had all conceivable complications of stent placement. The stent was removed with the help of rigid bronchoscope under general anaesthesia. She was discharged the following day. The case is being reported because it was unique in having all the possible complications of stent placement, and rare as we could take out the stent in Toto. Thirdly, the stent could be removed without any complication.
authors: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Jaipur Golden Hospital, Rohini, Delhi, India.
authors: Rakesh K
authors: RK
authors: Chawla
authors: Arun
authors: A
authors: Madan
authors: Ishwar
authors: I
authors: Singh
authors: Rahul
authors: R
authors: Mudoiya
authors: Aditya
authors: A
authors: Chawla
authors: Radha
authors: R
authors: Gupta
authors: Kiran
authors: K
authors: Chawla
authors: Roopam
authors: R
authors: Chhabra
keywords: Granulation tissue inside the stent; stenosis above the stent; stent fracture; stent migration
references: Chest. 2005 Feb;127(2):482-7
references: 15705985
references: Ann Thorac Surg. 1992 Nov;54(5):937-40
references: 1384448
references: J Pediatr Surg. 1998 Feb;33(2):304-11
references: 9498407
references: Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2003 Apr;128(4):478-88
references: 12707649
references: Chest. 2005 Jun;127(6):2106-12
references: 15947327