title: Management of tracheobronchial obstruction in infants using metallic stents: long-term outcome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Tracheobronchial obstruction, although uncommon in the pediatric age group, remains a challenging problem. We review the long-term outcome of endoscopic metallic stenting in infants with tracheobronchial obstruction.
  
  
  METHODS
  Medical records of all pediatric surgical patients who underwent tracheobronchial metallic stenting in our center were reviewed retrospectively from 1996 to 2014. Patients' demographic data, including etiology, associated anomalies and nature of obstruction were reviewed. Outcome measures include complications such as re-stenosis, granulation tissue, stent migration, fractured stent, maximal tracheal diameter achieved, weaning of ventilator and growth at interval follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twelve balloon-expandable metallic stents were placed in the trachea (n = 10) and/or bronchi (n = 2) of 5 patients with a median age of 13 months (range 5-30 months). Etiology of the airway obstruction included congenital tracheal stenosis (n = 4), giant cervical and superior mediastinal lymphatic malformation with tracheobronchomalacia (n = 1). Seven complications were reported (3 patients developed granulation tissue, 2 patients had re-stenosis, 1 stent migrated, 1 stent fractured). All patients survived and were in good condition with a median follow-up of 16 years (range 11-18 years). Three patients weaned off ventilator and oxygen.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Endoscopic stenting with metallic stent has satisfactory long-term outcome in treating infants with tracheobronchial obstruction.
authors.affiliation: Division of Paediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Ling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Leung
authors.forename: Patrick Ho Yu
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Kenneth Kak Yuen
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Paul Kwong Hang
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Tam
mesh_terms: D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000151:congenital / Q000628:therapy*; D001980:Bronchi / Q000601:surgery; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015607:Stents; D014132:Trachea / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome