Airway stents: a retrospective evaluation of indications, results and complications in our 10-year experience.

Abstract

Tracheobronchial stents (TBS) are the principal modalities in the management of central airway obstruction with intrinsic tracheobronchial pathology and extrinsic airway compression. The aim of the study is to assess the indications, surveillance management, complications, and long-term outcomes of the TBS managed by rigid bronchoscopy (RB) in our 10-year experience. The files of all patients who underwent stenting in two centers from November 2008 to September 2018 were reviewed for background data, type of disease, and indication for the placement of stents, symptoms, treatment, complications and outcome. 305 patients were stented with 342 TBS. TBS were placed in both malignant (n= 223) and benign airway diseases (n= 82). The median length of stent stay was 88 (34-280) days in patients with malignancies and 775 (228-2085) days in benign diseases. There was no stent-related mortality. Mucostasis (19%) and granulation tissue formation (17%) were the most common stentrelated complications. Benign nature of the disease, tumors metastatic to tracheobronchial tree, lenght of stent stay, and shape of stent were associated with the development of complications. TBS offer a safe and effective therapy for patients with both benign and malign tracheobronchial pathologies.