Comparison of natural and Dumon airway stents for the management of benign tracheobronchial stenoses.

OBJECTIVE AND

BACKGROUND

To investigate the utility and safety of the 'Natural stent', a newly designed silicone airway stent, the authors compared clinical outcomes and complications in patients who underwent silicone airway stenting for the management of benign airway stenosis.

METHODS

The medical records of 94 patients requiring the placement of 100 airway stents (43 Dumon and 57 Natural) were retrospectively reviewed in a tertiary referral hospital.

RESULTS

Post-tuberculous stenosis was the leading indication for airway stenting (74%), followed by post-intubation stenosis (21%). After intervention, dyspnoea improved in patients who underwent Dumon (90%) and Natural (86%) stenting. After stabilizing dyspnoea, stents could be successfully removed in half of the patients who underwent Dumon (54%) or Natural (49%) stenting. During a 42-month follow-up period, complication rates were similar in patients who underwent Dumon or Natural stenting.

CONCLUSION

Natural airway stent was as effective and safe as Dumon stent for the management of benign tracheobronchial stenoses.