Y-Nitinol Airway Stent for Management of Central Airway Compression Due to Metastatic Colon Cancer

Introduction

Tumors in the mediastinum, in the area between the esophagus and the tracheobronchial tree, can cause several complications, but mainly may lead to strictures in one or both organs [1]. This results in dysphagia and dyspnea, the latter due to airway compression. Further reasons for the same problems can be post-radiation strictures of both organs which sometimes have to be distinguished from the original tumor stenosis. However, another important cause of airway compression is the insertion of metal stents or plastic tubes in patients with stenosing proximal esophageal cancers [2]. So far, this complication has been mostly treated by implantation of a bifurcating dynamic Y-stent or a Dumon silicone stent, procedures which have to be performed with the patient under general anesthesia [3] [4] [5].

In this report, an innovative fiberbronchoscopic technique is described which enables intracorporeal construction of a prosthetic ”Y” device comprising two self-expanding tracheal nitinol stents, and which can be carried out with the patient under conscious sedation.

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