Treatment of a fractured ultraflex stent causing tracheal stenosis.

We report on a case of a fractured Ultraflex stent after placement for malignant tracheal stenosis. The patient was a 49-year-old female with adenoid cystic carcinoma of the trachea causing airway stenosis. She was treated by non-covered Ultraflex stent followed by chemoradiotherapy. Twenty months after stent placement, more than half of the distal end of the stent was fractured and caused airway stenosis, while there was no tumor regrowth. After dilation by balloon and bougienage using an endotracheal tube, an additional non-covered Ultraflex stent was placed within the first one, resulting in successful dilation. The patient is now well without any problem with the stent, 12 months after the second stent placement.