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

Three patients with recurrent bronchial stenosis following single lung transplant (SLTx), and one patient with tracheal stenosis following heart-lung transplantation (HLTx), not responding to repeated dilatations (3 patients) and prolonged use of silastic stents (patient with tracheal stenosis), have been treated by the endoscopic insertion of Gianturco self-expanding metallic stents under fluoroscopic control. The stent resulted in immediate improvement in respiratory function in all four patients. One patient (SLTx) had early bronchial re-stenosis due to growth of granulation tissue within the stent which was successfully treated by cryotherapy. In one patient (HLTx), a left lower lobe bronchial stenosis developed 14 months after tracheal stenting. The metallic stent appears to be a promising device in the management of recurrent or resistant bronchial stenosis following SLTx or tracheal stenosis after HLTx.