title: Temporary placement of metallic stent could lead to long-term benefits for benign tracheobronchial stenosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The permanent placement of metallic stent for benign tracheobronchial stenosis (BTS) was controversial. This study was conducted to evaluate the long-term outcomes of temporary placement of metallic stent for BTS.
  
  
  METHODS
  The BTS patients who received temporary placement of retrievable self-expanded metallic stents were included between 2008 and 2011. Pre-stenting and follow-up respiratory status was analyzed. And symptom recurrence-free survival (SRFS) was assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 49 stents were successfully temporarily placed in 40 consecutive BTS patients whose etiologies included endobronchial tuberculosis (EBTB) (n=22), post-tracheostomy stenosis (n=10), post-intubation stenosis (n=6) and post radiotherapy stricture (n=2). All stents were removed integrally after a median 18 days' stenting period, without major complications. During the median 27 months follow-up period after stent removal, a total of 22 patients were free of recurrence. And the overall 3-year SRFS rate was 52.0%. According to the etiology, the 3-year SRFS rates were 59.1% and 42.9% in the patients with EBTB and non-EBTB, respectively. Compared with pre-stenting, the follow-up internal diameter of stricture, Hugh-Jones scale, 6-minute walk test (6MWT) and percentage of forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1%) were significantly improved. Multivariate analysis suggested that granulation tissue growth and tracheobronchial malacia might be independent factors of poor prognosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Temporary placement of retrievable metallic stent may be an alternative treatment for BTS patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China.
authors.forename: Guo-Wu
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China.
authors.forename: Hai-Dong
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China.
authors.forename: Qin-Ying
authors.initials: QY
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China.
authors.forename: Ye
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xiong
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China.
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China.
authors.forename: Yu-Chao
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
keywords: Temporary placement; benign tracheobronchial stenosis (BTS); metallic stent; retrievable