Purpose: To investigate the feasibility and effectiveness of integrated self-expanding Y-shaped airway stent placement for patients with carinal stenosis.
Materials and methods: From May 2010 to March 2015, 12 consecutive patients with carinal stenosis, treated by placement of integrated self-expanding Y-shaped airway stent, were included this retrospective study. Data on technical success, clinical success, and follow-up were analyzed.
Results: Technical success was 100 %. Eleven uncovered stents and one covered stent placed in 12 patients. Eleven patients underwent stent insertion under local pharyngeal anesthesia, and one patient underwent stent insertion under general anesthesia. Clinical success was 100 %. The respiratory difficulty improved instantly after treatment. The average Hugh-Jones classification grade and arterial oxygen saturation improved from 4.3 ± 0.6 and 83.0 ± 2.6 % before treatment to 1.4 ± 0.5 (p < 0.001) and 95.4 ± 1.2 % (p < 0.001) after treatment, respectively. During 3-15 months (mean 6.5 ± 3.3 months) of follow-up, two patients experienced the re-stenosis of the stent 75 and 78 days after treatment. All patients died during the follow-up. Survival after stent insertion ranged from 96 to 432 days (median 165 days). The cumulative 6- and 12-month survival rates were 41.7 and 8.3 %, respectively.
Conclusions: Placement of integrated self-expanding Y-shaped airway stent is a simple, safe, and effective method for patients with carinal stenosis.
Keywords: Carinal stenosis; Stent; Y-shaped.