Gianturco self-expanding metallic stents in treatment of tracheobronchial stenosis after single lung and heart and lung transplantation

Abstract

Three patients with recurrent bronchial stenosis following single lungtransplant (SLTx), and one patient with tracheal stenosis followingheart-lung transplantation (HLTx), not responding to repeated dilatations(3 patients) and prolonged use of silastic stents (patient with trachealstenosis), have been treated by the endoscopic insertion of Gianturcoself-expanding metallic stents under fluoroscopic control. The stentresulted in immediate improvement in respiratory function in all fourpatients. One patient (SLTx) had early bronchial re-stenosis due to growthof granulation tissue within the stent which was successfully treated bycryotherapy. In one patient (HLTx), a left lower lobe bronchial stenosisdeveloped 14 months after tracheal stenting. The metallic stent appears tobe a promising device in the management of recurrent or resistant bronchialstenosis following SLTx or tracheal stenosis after HLTx.