Objective: To treat inoperable tracheal stenosis by using nitinol endotracheal stent and to solve some problems facing endotracheal stenting with other kinds of stents.
Methods: The stent was made of nitinol wire. It can be deformed to smaller size in iced water. With a self-made introducer, the stent was placed in the location of stenosis. After hot water was injected into the introducer, the stent resumed its original 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 follow-up also showed satisfactory results.
Conclusion: Nitinol stent has some remarkable advantages as compared with other tracheal stents. It can be used as a new endoprosthesis in treating narrowed trachea.