The treatment of carinal stenosis with tracheal stent

Objective To explore the efficiency of stent placement in treating carinal stenosis.Methods Thirty-three patients with carinal stenosis underwent stenting in Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital between 1993 and 2008 were recruited in the current study.NiTi spiral stents were placed with tracheotomy in 14 patients.Nitinol-alloy stents were placed in the rest 19 patients via bronchofibroscope under X-ray,including 3 treacheo-bronchial stents with lateral aperture.Results All stents were placed successfully.Patients were significantly relieved from dyspnea,and postoperative PaO_2,SaO_2 was immediately increased after stenting.Because of the primary tumor metastasis,patients with malignant tumor died in 2 to 12 months.One patients with endobronchial tuberculosis died of respiratory failure in 10 months,one still alive.Conclusions Stent treatment of carinal stenosis is beneficial in effectively relieving respiratory distress and improving life quality.Proper selection of stent type and placement according to the stenotic position and scope was recommended. Key words: Trachea stenosis;  Stent;  Carina