Clinical application of implanting nitinol alloy endotracheal stent in the treatment of tracheobronchial stenosis

Objective 　To explore the clinical results of implanting expanding nitinol alloy stent in the treatment of tracheobronchial stenosis. Methods 　The nitinol alloy endotracheal stent was put into the site of stricture of trachea or bronchus in 42 patients through an optical fibrobronchoscopy under X-ray examination. The oxygen saturation of blood (SaO2 ) and pulse rate were detected before , during and after operation respectively. Results 　After implanting nitinol alloy stent , 32 patients got satisfactory response , and other 10 patients got partial response. In all patients , the diameters of the stenostic airway were increased significantly , and ventilation function improved remarkably. The postoperative SaO2 was greatly higher than the preoperative one ( P < 0. 001) . The quality of life was also improved. Conclusion 　The nitinol alloy endotracheal stent was an effictive , safe and reliable method to release tracheobronchial stenosis. DOI: 10.3779/j.issn.1009-3419.2000.02.12