Study objective: To determine whether expandable metal stent placement for benign airway lesions improves pulmonary function.
Design: Case series.
Setting: University medical center.
Patients: Nine patients who underwent balloon-mediated expandable metal stent deployment for airway obstruction due to benign etiologies.
Results: All nine patients had expandable stents deployed for benign airway lesions using fiberoptic bronchoscopy and fluoroscopic guidance. Pulmonary function improved after stent placement. The mean FVC increased by 388 mL (95% confidence interval [CI], 30 to 740 mL), the mean peak expiratory flow (PEF) increased by 1,288 mL (95% CI, 730 to 1,840 mL), the mean FEV1 increased by 550 mL (95% CI, 240 to 860 mL), and the mean forced expiratory flow between 25% and 50% of vital capacity (FEF25-75%) increased by 600 mL (95% CI, 110 to 1,090 mL). Corresponding relative measurements included increases in FVC (12%), PEF (95%), FEV1 (38%), and FEF25-75% (87%). The complete characterization of a benign airway obstruction generally required a multimodal approach.
Conclusions: Expandable metal stent placement appears to be an effective therapy for benign airway obstruction.