title: Bronchoscopic management of critical central airway obstruction by thyroid cancer: Combination airway stenting using tracheal and inverted-Y carinal self-expanding metallic stents.
abstract: Central airway obstruction (CAO) can result from various benign and malignant etiologies. Anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) is the most aggressive form of thyroid cancer. Rapid airway compromise is the main cause of death in ATC. We report a patient with ATC who presented with a large neck mass leading to CAO with long segment tracheal and right main bronchial compression and respiratory failure. Urgent Rigid Bronchoscopy was performed for airway stabilization and patient was managed with a combination airway stenting approach. A combination of self expanding, metallic, covered inverted Y and straight tracheal stents was used to stabilize the near complete airway structure. We herein highlight the role of therapeutic rigid bronchoscopy with airway stenting as an efficacious treatment modality for management of malignant CAO.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonary Medicine and Sleep Disorders, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Karan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Madan
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonary Medicine and Sleep Disorders, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Prajowl
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Shrestha
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncoanesthesia, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Rakesh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Garg
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonary Medicine and Sleep Disorders, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Vijay
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Hadda
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonary Medicine and Sleep Disorders, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Anant
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mohan
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonary Medicine and Sleep Disorders, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Randeep
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Guleria
keywords: Airway stent; bronchoscopy; central airway obstruction; self-expanding metal stent; thyroid carcinoma