Self-expanding tracheobronchial stents using flexible bronchoscopy. Preliminary clinical experience.

Endoscopic insertion of tracheobronchial stents is indicated to achieve patency of the airway in case of malignant or benign obstructing lesions. Until now, the placement of prostheses has required a rigid bronchoscope with specially designed insertion instruments. Self-expanding stents are currently used to treat stenoses of different hollow organs (vessels, urinary tract, gastrointestinal tract, bile duct, respiratory tract). We report the first case of a self-expanding stent implanted in the trachea and right main stem bronchus using flexible videobronchoscope under local anesthesia. The procedure was easy, safe, effective, and well tolerated. No complications occurred.