Pneumonia in a heart-lung recipient after airway stent placement.

Recently, the self-expandable metallic stent (SEMS) has been added to our armamentarium. However, in the case presented here placement of the self-expandable metallic stent had catastrophic consequences 11 months later. We are of the opinion that airway stent placement may result in severe complications including clinical infection, and if it must be deployed, the proper size and positioning of the stent is always of the utmost importance.