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Minerva Pneumologica 2009 September;48(3):243-59

Copyright © 2009 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Silicone and metallic stents in interventional pulmonology

Santacruz J. F. ¹, Folch E. ², Mehta A. C.

¹ Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, Respiratory Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA; ² Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, Abu-Dhabi UAE, Staff Physician, Respiratory Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA

Airway stents are endobronchial prosthesis made of a variety of materials that support and maintain patency of the bronchial tree. The indications for airway stents are multiple, including malignant and benign disorders. There are basically three types of airway stents: Silicone, metallic and hybrid stents. Each stent has specific qualities; however, there is no ideal stent and the selection of the stent depends on individual basis. In general, silicone stents require rigid bronchoscopy for their placement while metallic and hybrid stents may be deployed with the flexible bronchoscope. Due to the ease of placement, the use of metallic stents has become popular. However, given the significant complications of metallic stents, their use, especially in benign disorders should be considered only when there is no possible surgical correction or when everything else has failed. In this review article, we present some of the most common different type of stents, their clinical use and complications.