Bianca Siegel1, John P Bent, Robert F Ward. 1. Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, New York 10467, USA. gruberb@gmail.com
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To reflect on lessons learned placing endotracheal nitinol stents in children. STUDY DESIGN: Case series with chart review. SETTING: Tertiary care children's hospital. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: All children who underwent nitinol cervical tracheal stenting were included. Records were carefully reviewed for intraoperative and postoperative complications, management choices, outcomes, and factors that influenced results. RESULTS: Between 1999 and 2011, 7 children underwent 13 stent placements. Median follow-up was 5 years (range, 1-12 years). Six patients underwent stenting as a salvage procedure following open attempts at airway reconstruction. Four patients remain decannulated with their stent in place (median follow-up 7 years). The fifth patient had his stent removed endoscopically after 50 days because it became apparent that his obstruction was primarily laryngeal. The sixth child had his stent removed via a tracheal fissure after 14 months because of recalcitrant subglottic inflammation at the superior stent border. The seventh patient was decannulated for over 2 years but ultimately required tracheotomy replacement because of stenosis with the stent lumen. Complications included stent migration (23%), restenosis (29%), edema (29%), and granulation (57%). CONCLUSION: Endotracheal nitinol stents provide a realistic opportunity for decannulation in children for whom other options have failed but should be reserved only as a salvage procedure in severely complicated airways. Our experience has taught valuable lessons about stent indications, sizing, characteristics, and deployment, as well as means to avoid and manage their complications.
OBJECTIVE: To reflect on lessons learned placing endotracheal nitinol stents in children. STUDY DESIGN: Case series with chart review. SETTING: Tertiary care children's hospital. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: All children who underwent nitinol cervical tracheal stenting were included. Records were carefully reviewed for intraoperative and postoperative complications, management choices, outcomes, and factors that influenced results. RESULTS: Between 1999 and 2011, 7 children underwent 13 stent placements. Median follow-up was 5 years (range, 1-12 years). Six patients underwent stenting as a salvage procedure following open attempts at airway reconstruction. Four patients remain decannulated with their stent in place (median follow-up 7 years). The fifth patient had his stent removed endoscopically after 50 days because it became apparent that his obstruction was primarily laryngeal. The sixth child had his stent removed via a tracheal fissure after 14 months because of recalcitrant subglottic inflammation at the superior stent border. The seventh patient was decannulated for over 2 years but ultimately required tracheotomy replacement because of stenosis with the stent lumen. Complications included stent migration (23%), restenosis (29%), edema (29%), and granulation (57%). CONCLUSION: Endotracheal nitinol stents provide a realistic opportunity for decannulation in children for whom other options have failed but should be reserved only as a salvage procedure in severely complicated airways. Our experience has taught valuable lessons about stent indications, sizing, characteristics, and deployment, as well as means to avoid and manage their complications.
Authors: Liping Zhao; Sumati Sundaram; Andrew V Le; Angela H Huang; Jiasheng Zhang; Go Hatachi; Arkadi Beloiartsev; Michael G Caty; Tai Yi; Katherine Leiby; Ashley Gard; Mehmet H Kural; Liqiong Gui; Kevin A Rocco; Amogh Sivarapatna; Elizabeth Calle; Allison Greaney; Luca Urbani; Panagiotis Maghsoudlou; Alan Burns; Paolo DeCoppi; Laura E Niklason Journal: Tissue Eng Part A Date: 2016-09 Impact factor: 3.845