NITINOL ALLOY ENDOTRACHEAL STENT FOR TREATMENT OF TRACHEAL STENOSIS

Objective To treat inoperable tracheal stenosis by using nitinol endot racheal stent and to solve some problems facing endotracheal stenting with other kinds of stents. Methods The stent was made of nitinol wire . It can he deformed to smaller size in iced water. With a self-made i ntroducer, the stent was placed in the location of stenosis. After hot water was injected into the introducer, the stent resumed its origina l form and anchored there itself. Results Altogether, 5 patients with severe tracheal stenosis received this treatment. Dyspnea was relieved immediately after implantation of stents in all patients. Long-term f ollow-up also showed satisfactory results. Conclusions Nitinol stent h as some remarkable advantages as compared with other tracheal stents. It can be used as a new endoprosthesis in treating narrowed trachea.