Airway Stent Placement
Airway stents, also known as tracheobronchial stents, are devices used to open narrowed airway passages. Narrowed airways result from numerous conditions including infections, lung cancer, tuberculosis, lymphoma, abnormal granulation tissue, or other diseases. Stents come in a variety of materials and are cylindrical in shape and are inserted bronchoscopically.
Reasons for the Procedure
- Airway stents are used to open airways and allow adequate airflow to help the patient breath better and prevent any future obstruction.
- Airway stents can be removable or permanent
Benefits of Airway Stent Placement
- Stents allow airways to remain open and keeps the lung from becoming collapsed
- Stent therapy is a beneficial option for relief of airway obstruction.
- Patients have an improved quality of life with open airway passages.
*Images show progression of a patient with a blocked airway, during stent placement, and post-stent placement with an open airway passage.