Abstract
Since the insertion of self expandable metalic stent[SEMS has became popular method for hollow organ stenosis, many attempts for further apply the stent to airway stenosis as an simple procedure has been made, but intrabronchial migration of stent or occurrence of inflammatory granuloma around stent develop occasionally and sometimes it worsen bronchial stenosis further more. This report describes 2 case of surgically treated bronchial restenosis in whom intrabronchial stent were applied for release of bronchial stenosis. Our surgical option was pneumonectomy and bronchoplasty with sleeve right middle and upper lobectomy respectively. During the operation we found the SEMSs were tightly impacted in restenotic bronchial lumen with overgrowth of granulation tissues. The bronchial obstructions occupied more than 90% of lumens in both cases, and needed much complicated procedure to be relieved. Therefore, even though the insertion of SEMS remains as a prcedure determined by the physician`s preference, it has to be considered prudently that the use of SEMS can cause severe restenosis and the surgeon has more difficulties in performing segmental resection of restenotic bronchus in patient with SEMS previously inserted. Throughout these experiences we can conclude that the insertion of SEMS must be performed only in very selected cases of bronchial stenosis.
