INTRATRACHEAL STENT INTUBATION UNDER EXTRACORPOREAL LUNG ASSIST

An artificial stent was intubated using extracorporeal lung assist (EC LA) in two patients with inoperable tracheal stenosis. In a patient wi th an endotracheal tumor, an airway obstruction due to a partial stent collapse was overcome by an immediate ECLA perfusion, In another pati ent with chronic inflammatory tracheal stenosis, a repetitive balloon dilation of the trachea could be safely performed utilizing ECLA perfu sion. Preventive femoral cannulation, employing the assistance of an E CLA circuit, is thus considered to be a safe and effective procedure f or the treatment of inoperable tracheal stenosis.