We assessed the results of self-expanding metallic
stent insertion into benign proximal
tracheal stenosis in patients not appropriate or unfit for surgical repair. Proximal benign
tracheal stenoses had occurred in 11 patients (7 men, 4 women, mean age 68.8 years) after long-time intubation (n = 6),
tracheostomy (n = 4), or chondropathia (n = 1). Fourteen self-expanding
nitinol stents were placed in the patients under
general anesthesia with endoscopical and fluoroscopical guidance.
Stent insertion was successful in all cases and led to immediate relief of the morphological and functional
airway obstruction. No immediate complications were noted. During the mean follow-up period of 67.5 weeks we observed one recurrent
dyspnea 3 months after implantation and
granuloma formation at the
stent insertion site in another patient. Both complications were successfully treated with additional
stent insertion in one case and
laser resection of
granulomas in the other. Self-expanding
nitinol stents should be considered for the treatment of benign proximal tracheal obstruction in selected patients for whom surgical repair is contraindicated.