| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
|
|
|
|||||||
|
|||||||||
Ann Thorac Surg 2007;83:1251-1256
© 2007 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons
a Department of Respiratory Medicine, Bristol Royal Infirmary, Bristol, United Kingdom
b Department of Thoracic Surgery, Bristol Royal Infirmary, Bristol, United Kingdom
Accepted for publication November 20, 2006.
* Address correspondence to Dr Husain, Respiratory Medicine Department, Bristol Royal Infirmary, Marlborough St, Bristol BS2 8HW, United Kingdom (Email: dr_arshad_husain{at}yahoo.co.uk).
Background: We report experience with Ultraflex metallic stents (Boston Scientific, Natick, MA) inserted at rigid bronchoscopy under general anesthesia for palliation of benign and malignant upper airway obstruction.
Methods: Notes of all patients treated with Ultraflex stents from 1999 to 2003 were reviewed for symptomatic response, spirometric data, and any complications before discharge home. Long-term outcome was assessed by questionnaires sent to patients’ general practitioners.
Results: Recruited were 66 patients (12 benign, 54 malignant airway obstructions). Before discharge home, breathlessness improved in 11 of 12 patients with benign obstruction and in 39 of 54 with malignancies. Postoperative complications in 10 patients with malignant obstructions and in 2 patients with benign obstruction were successfully controlled. It was not possible to perform preoperative pulmonary function tests in most of the patients who presented as emergencies. Mean improvement in forced expiratory volume in 1 second was 0.88 liters in 3 patients with benign obstruction and 0.28 liters in 14 patients with malignant obstruction, and mean peak expiratory flow rate improved by 109 L/min and 97 L/min, respectively. General practitioners completed questionnaires for 12 benign patients and 46 of 54 patients with malignancies. At a mean follow-up of 1017 days (range, 46 to 1120 days), 10 of the 12 patients with benign disease were alive and 7 of 46 patients with malignant airway obstruction were alive, with a median survival of 128 days (mean, 361; range, 3 to 1859 days). Most survivors had Medical Research Council grade III breathlessness or better, with few stent-related symptoms.
Conclusions: Ultraflex stents proved safe and effective in prolonged palliation of benign and malignant airways obstruction.
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  J. H. Kim, J. H. Shin, H.-Y. Song, J.-Y. Ohm, J. M. Lee, D. H. Lee, and S.-W. Kim Palliative Treatment of Inoperable Malignant Tracheobronchial Obstruction: Temporary Stenting Combined With Radiation Therapy and/or Chemotherapy Am. J. Roentgenol., July 1, 2009; 193(1): W38 - W42. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 F.-T. Chung, S.-M. Lin, H.-C. Chen, C.-L. Chou, C.-T. Yu, C.-Y. Liu, C.-H. Wang, H.-C. Lin, C.-D. Huang, and H.-P. Kuo Factors leading to tracheobronchial self-expandable metallic stent fracture. J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg., November 1, 2008; 136(5): 1328 - 1335. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 S. A. Husain, A. Morgan, and M. Hetzel Reply Ann. Thorac. Surg., May 1, 2008; 85(5): 1843 - 1843. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
C. N. Foroulis, N. Charokopos, and C. Papakonstantinou Should Ultraflex Metallic Stents Be Used In Benign Airway Obstruction? Ann. Thorac. Surg., May 1, 2008; 85(5): 1842 - 1843. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
| ANN THORAC SURG | ASIAN CARDIOVASC THORAC ANN | EUR J CARDIOTHORAC SURG |
| J THORAC CARDIOVASC SURG | ICVTS | ALL CTSNet JOURNALS |
