Use of endoscopically placed expandable nitinol tracheal stents in the treatment of tracheal stenosis.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the potential utility of a new endoscopically placed expandable tracheal stent in the treatment of benign symptomatic stenoses of the cervical trachea. STUDY DESIGN Pilot study utilizing a prospectively followed case series. METHODS An initial group of six patients undergoing stent placement was examined with rigid and flexible endoscopy under anesthesia immediately following stent placement and at postoperative 6 to 8 weeks. Subsequently each patient was followed clinically for a minimum of 6 months. RESULTS All stents were well tolerated with no observed complications. Immediate reversal of symptomatic airway obstruction without the need for adjunctive tracheotomy was noted in every patient. At 6 weeks, endoscopic confirmation of complete intraluminal mucosalization without formation of any granulation tissue or scar bands within the stented areas was noted in each case. CONCLUSIONS This preliminary pilot study supports the use of nitinol expandable tracheal stents as an alternative in the treatment of benign symptomatic tracheal stenoses.