[Self-expanding nitinol stents for treatment of tracheobronchial and esophageal stenosis caused by lung cancer].

A 57-year-old man was admitted because of dysphagia. Two year earlier, endoscopic ND-YAG laser treatment had been performed for squamous cell carcinoma of the tracheal carina. The esophagus was compressed and narrowed by invasion of lung cancer. After ballooning, under endoscopic and fluoroscopic control, a self-expanding nitinol stent (SENS, Ultraflex, Microvasive) was implanted in the esophagus. Immediately after esophageal prosthesis implantation, severe dyspnea and stridor developed because of tumor strictures in the left main bronchus. Under fluoroscopic and guide-wire control, SENS (Accuflex, Microvasive) was implanted in the tracheobronchial tree. Dyspnea, dysphagia and stridor were markedly improved after placement of two nitinol stents. Highly flexible, knitted, self-expanding nitinol stent is made of a nickel titanium alloy. Although the implantation of SENS in tracheobronchial stenosis has not previously been reported, it should be useful for prevention of airway obstruction.