The treatment of benign tracheal stenosis using airway stents:report of 11 cases

Aim:To review the clinical results of airway stents in the treatwent of benign tracheal stenosis.Clinical material and method:From February 1982 to August 1998,11 patients with benign tracheal stenosis were treated by application of various kinds of airway stents (Y-shape silicone tube stent in 8,NiTi shape memory alloy stent in 4 and Strecker metallic net stent in 1).The indications were:post-tracheostomy stenosis in 3,patients,tuberculous tracheal stenosis in 2,anastomotic obstruction in 1,tracheal injury in 2, secondary to chemicocautery in 2 and radiotherapy in 1.Results:All patients were followed-up 4 months to 15 years.Therapy was proved successful in 8 patients.2 patients had recurrent airway obstruction in 3 and 6 months postoperatively and the stents were replaced .Complications included granuloma formation in 3 patients and airwary obstruction due to heavy secretion in 5.Conclusion:The preliminary experience indicates that airway stents would play a useful role in the treatment of selected benign tracheal stenosis.