[Evaluation of domestically made recalled nitinol alloy stent implantation for severe airway stenosis].

OBJECTIVE: it is more difficult and carries more risks to place airway stent under local anaesthesia for the patient with severe airway stenosis. The technique and method of domestically made recalled nitinol alloy stent implantation for severe airway stenosis was explored and evaluated. METHODS: by using bronchoscopy via larynx mask, trachea intubation, or rigid bronchoscope under general anaesthesia and mechanical ventilation, stents are placed in the airway of patients with severe airway stenosis for which had been difficult to performed under local anaesthesia. RESULTS: according to the various tracheobronchial lesions of patients, 42 stents were successfully placed in 40 patients, via larynx mask 23 cases, trachea intubation 11 cases, and rigid bronchoscope 6 cases under general anaesthesia and mechanical ventilation. No complications happened. The recalled nitinol alloy stents were placed in trachea 27 cases (membrane covered stent 9 cases), left primary bronchus 8 cases, right primary bronchus to medial segment 2 cases, trachea to left primary bronchus (wedge shaped stent) 5 cases respectively. The airway pressure decreased to normal level and other ventilator parameters also recovered after stents were placed. In most patients, the dyspnea index was improved immediately and the scores decreased from grades IV-V to grades 0-II, with higher scores indicating worse dyspnea. CONCLUSION: for patients with severe airway stenosis, it is safer, effective and more comfortable to place the stent via larynx mask, trachea intubation, or rigid bronchoscope under general anaesthesia and mechanical ventilation compared to local anaesthesia and is worth spread and popularization in the future.