Use of silicone stents for the management of post-tuberculosis tracheobronchial stenosis.

Abstract

The role of bronchoscopic management in post-tuberculosis tracheobronchial stenosis is not well defined. To investigate the role of bronchoscopic intervention, including silicone stenting, in the management of post-tuberculosis tracheobronchial stenosis, the current retrospective study was conducted at a tertiary referral hospital. Under rigid bronchoscopy, 80 patients underwent ballooning, neodymium-yttrium aluminium garnet laser resection and/or bougienation as first-line methods of airway dilatation between January 2000 and December 2003 inclusive, and were followed for a median of 41 months. Silicone stents were required in 75 out of 80 (94%) patients to maintain airway patency. Bronchoscopic intervention provided immediate symptomatic relief and improved lung function in 88% of the patients. After airway stabilisation, stents were removed successfully in 49 out of 75 (65%) patients at a median of 14 months post-insertion. Three patients out of 75 (4%) eventually underwent surgical management. Acute complications included: excessive bleeding (n = 1); pneumothorax (n = 5); and pneumomediastinum without mortality (n = 2). Stent-related late complications, such as migration (51%), granuloma formation (49%), mucostasis (19%) and re-stenosis (40%), were controllable during a median follow-up of 41 months. In conclusion, bronchoscopic intervention, including silicone stenting, could be a useful and safe method for treating post-tuberculosis tracheobronchial stenosis.

• Authors: Y J Ryu, H Kim, C M Yu, J C Choi, Y S Kwon, O J Kwon
• Journal: The European respiratory journal (Eur Respir J) Vol. 28 Issue 5 Pg. 1029-35 (Nov 2006) ISSN: 0903-1936 [Print] England
• PMID: 16971412 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Silicones

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Aged
• Bronchial Diseases (etiology, therapy)
• Constriction, Pathologic (etiology, therapy)
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Retrospective Studies
• Silicones
• Stents (adverse effects)
• Tracheal Stenosis (etiology, therapy)
• Tuberculosis, Pulmonary (complications)