Background: To address the limitations of silicone stents, we designed a hinged self-expandable covered metallic stent. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the customized stents in clinical applications.
Methods: This was a retrospective analysis. Under conscious sedation and local anesthesia, the stents were implanted or removed by interventional radiologists, with fluoroscopic guidance.
Results: Of 24 patients with benign main bronchial stenosis, stents were successfully placed in 21 (87.5%). The low-pressure balloon before dilation failed in 1 case (4.17%) of left main bronchial cicatricial stenosis. In 2 other cases (8.33%), stent placement was abandoned. Stents were successfully removed between 29 and 103 days after the procedure. After stent removal, the follow-up lasted for at least 12 months. Restenosis occurred only in 1 case (4.55%) owing to bronchial collapse 3 days after stent removal. Dyspnea occurred in another case (4.55%) at 2 months after retrieval; recurrence was confirmed using bronchoscopy, leading to a left pneumonectomy.
Conclusions: The described procedure is safe and easy to be performed and avoids the use of intubation, bronchoscopy, and general anesthesia.
Copyright © 2017 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.