Tracheobronchial stents: terapeutic option for acquired tracheobronchial stenosis

Abstract

Tracheobronchial stenosis curses with dyspnea, stridor and obstructive pneumonia, and can be caused by tumors, extrinsic compression and tracheobronchomalacia, butthe most frequent cause is the sequel resulting of prolonged intubation, occurring in about 1% intubations. The treatment of choice for such condition is resection of the compromised segment; however this procedure isn't possible in every patient and this led to the development of endoscopic palliative technique. Tracheobronchial stentintg is between one of such techniques that obtain the best results. Tracheobronchial stents can be divided manly between silicone tubes and self-expandable metallic stents, each one with specific advantages and disadvantages. The present study presents the main stent models, comparing their advantagese disadvantages and complications rates, aiming to systematize the ideal indications for every type of stent.