title: Management of Benign Tracheal Stenosis by Small-diameter Tube-assisted Bronchoscopic Balloon Dilatation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A limitation of bronchoscopic balloon dilatation (BBD) is that airflow must be completely blocked for as long as possible during the operation. However, the patient often cannot hold his or her breath for a long period affecting the efficacy of the procedure. In this study, we used an extra-small-diameter tube to provide assisted ventilation to patients undergoing BBD and assessed the efficacy and safety of this technique.
  
  
  METHODS
  Bronchoscopic balloon dilatation was performed in 26 patients with benign tracheal stenosis using an extra-small-diameter tube. The tracheal diameter, dyspnea index, blood gas analysis results, and complications were evaluated before and after BBD. Statistical analyses were performed by SPSS version 16.0 for Windows (SPSS, Inc., Chicago, IL, USA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixty-three BBD procedures were performed in 26 patients. Dyspnea immediately improved in all patients after BBD. The tracheal diameter significantly increased from 5.5 ± 1.5 mm to 13.0 ± 1.3 mm (P < 0.001), and the dyspnea index significantly decreased from 3.4 ± 0.8 to 0.5 ± 0.6 (P < 0.001). There was no significant change in the partial pressure of oxygen during the operation (before, 102.5 ± 27.5 mmHg; during, 96.9 ± 30.4 mmHg; and after, 97.2 ± 21.5 mmHg; P = 0.364), but there was slight temporary retention of carbon dioxide during the operation (before, 43.5 ± 4.2 mmHg; during, 49.4 ± 6.8 mmHg; and after, 40.1 ± 3.9 mmHg; P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Small-diameter tube-assisted BBD is an effective and safe method for the management of benign tracheal stenosis.
authors.forename: Yi-Lin
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, China.
authors.forename: Guang-Nan
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Hou-Wen
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Le-Cheng
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yu-Yan
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: Wen-Tao
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Si-Ming
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Mei-Ling
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001999:Bronchoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D004106:Dilatation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014135:Tracheal Stenosis / Q000601:surgery*; D055815:Young Adult