title: Initial experience with a new biodegradable airway stent in children: Is this the stent we were waiting for?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report our experience with a new type of biodegradable airway stent in the setting of severe tracheobronchial obstruction in children.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a retrospective and prospective (since June 2014) study of pediatric patients with severe airway obstruction treated with biodegradable stents in our institution between 2012 and 2015. The following data were collected: demographics, indication for stenting, bronchoscopic findings, insertion technique complications, clinical outcome, stent related complications, re-stenting, and time of follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirteen custom-made polydioxanone stents were placed in four infants (mean age, 4 months) with severe tracheobronchial obstruction: tracheomalacia (two patients), bronchomalacia (1), and diffuse tracheal stenosis (1). All the stents were bronchoscopically inserted uneventfully. Immediate and maintained clinical improvement was observed in every case. No major stent related complications have occurred and only mild or moderate granulation tissue was observed during surveillance bronchoscopy. Two patients required repeated stenting as expected. All the patients are alive and in a good respiratory condition with a follow-up ranging from 5 to 40 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Biodegradable airway stents seem to be safe, effective, and cause fewer complications than other types of stents. They can be an alternative to the classic metallic or plastic stents for severe tracheal stenosis or malacia in small children. More experience is needed in order to establish the definite clinical criteria for their use in pediatric patients. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2016;51:607-612. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Airway Unit, Division of Pediatric Surgery, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Juan L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Antón-Pacheco
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Airway Unit, Division of Pediatric Surgery, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Luna
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Institute of the Heart, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Enrique
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: García
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Airway Unit, Division of Pediatric Surgery, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: López
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Airway Unit, Division of Pediatric Surgery, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Rocío
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Morante
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Airway Unit, Division of Pediatric Surgery, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tordable
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Division of Pediatrics, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Alba
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Palacios
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Anesthesiology, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Mónica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de Miguel
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Airway Unit, Division of Pediatric Surgery, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Benavent
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Airway Unit, Division of Pediatric Surgery, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Andrés
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gómez
mesh_terms: D020341:Absorbable Implants / Q000009:adverse effects; D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000009:adverse effects; D001999:Bronchoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D061214:Patient Safety; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015607:Stents / Q000009:adverse effects; D014135:Tracheal Stenosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials
keywords: airway obstruction; biodegradable airway stent; bronchoscopy; children