Self-expandable stents for tracheal stenosis: experience in two patients.

Abstract

Two patients with cervical tracheal stenosis, following prolonged ventilatory support, underwent balloon dilatation and expandable stainless steel stent placement across the stenoses. Following the successful release of the stent, there was gradual widening of the stenosed trachea in one patient, while in the other re-stenosis occurred due to columns of tracheal tissue projecting between the limbs of the stent. In the chronically ill and debilitated, use of expandable stents provides a good alternative to complex reconstructive surgery.