Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 News
    
        Photos

    Week in Photos

    Air Force TV

    Commentaries

    Features

    Art

    About Us
    
        Air Force Senior Leaders
    
        SECAF

    CSAF

    CMSAF

    Biographies

    Fact Sheets

    SECAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library
    
        CSAF Leadership Library 2022

    CSAF Leadership Library 2021

    CSAF Reading List Pre-2020 Archive
    
        2018 CSAF Reading List

    2017 CSAF Reading List

    2016 CSAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library 2023

    CMSAF Leadership Library

    50 Years of the CMSAF

    Adjunct Professors

    Air Force Strategic Documents

    Arctic Strategy

    Empowered Airmen

    State Licensure Portability

    Careers

    AF Federal Advisory Committees

    AF 75th Anniversary

    Policy Updates

    AF Content Management

    Contact Us

    AF Sites
    
        Site RegistrationU.S. Air Force LogoAir Force

        Policy UpdatesNewsroomReoptimizationBIOGRAPHIESAF Senior Leaders      Physician performs Air Force’s first airway stent procedurePublished Dec. 28, 2021
                    
                    By Senior Airman Seth Haddix
                    
                    
                    81st Training Wing Public Affairs
            **KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE (AFNS) --**Two patients with metastatic lung cancer were rushed to an operating room at**Keesler Air Force Base’s** **81st Medical Group**, struggling to breathe as tumors constricted their airways.

Maj. Derrell Nettlow, 81st Healthcare Operations Squadron pulmonary critical care physician, was called to perform the Air Force’s first**airway stent** procedure to give both patients the ability to breathe.

“I spent hours preparing for the operation,” Nettlow said. “I prepared the equipment and ran through the process in the operating room. I knew this was something I was capable of accomplishing.”
With help from the pulmonary critical care clinic, Nettlow was able to successfully burn the tumors and open the patients’ airways with palliative airway stents, a tube placed into the throat that prevents it from closing.

“Nettlow’s advanced pulmonary skill set was critical for this procedure and the timing was perfect,” said Maj. John Untisz, 81st Healthcare Operations Squadron pulmonary critical care physician. “He was not only able to give the patients the ability to breathe but also gifted them the best quality of life.”

This procedure marks another successful adoption by the Air Force of a**medical advancement**, which will enable the service to work faster and smarter in life-saving situations.

After the intense procedure, Nettlow recognized the positive impact of the situation, using this experience as an example of adapting to any life-saving situations for the medical field.

“The more complex procedures we offer and the more patients we see, the more prepared we are down range,” Nettlow said. “Developing procedural skill sets will prepare us for any operations overseas and advance our capabilities.”

Nettlow believes this procedure can set a precedent for new medical capabilities going forward.

“Airway stenting will become more common,” Nettlow said. “I see an increase in demand for this operation, and we will be able to treat more patients. This opportunity can set a precedent for our future and reach new medical possibilities across the country.”FS 



USAF 



AF 



Air Force 



Airway Stent 



cancer 



medical 



pulmonary 



Keesler AFB 



technology 



Operation 



AETC 



Air Education and Training Command 



readiness 



innovation Featured News
        Senior Leader Priorities
                DAF leaders talk budget, reoptimizing the force
                    
                    DAF leaders speak at National Character and Leadership Symposium
                    
                    DAF members recognized during BEYA STEM awards
                    
                    DAF senior enlisted advisors discuss Airmen, Guardians in the fight
                    
                    SecAF Kendall AFA Warfare Symposium Q&A: Reoptimizing for Great Power CompetitionInnovation
                AFWERX director discusses role of tech startups, quick innovation in Great Power Competition
                    
                    DAF delivers lethality at the speed of data during Project Convergence Capstone 4
                    
                    DAF welcomes industry partners to HQ development program
                    
                    DAF announces Spark Tank 2024 finalists
                    
                    Chief Digital, Artificial Intelligence Office to host hackathon in HawaiiMAJCOM News
                Safety enterprise announces new mission, vision, goals in 2024 strategic plan
                    
                    Air Combat Command welcomes new commander
                    
                    USAFE-AFAFRICA commander discusses Integrated Air, Missile Defense during Munich Security Conference
                    
                    Flosi to AFMC family: Embrace change, make every day count
                    
                    AMC rises to increasing global tension
 Quick Links
AccessibilityContact UsEqual OpportunityFOIA | Privacy | Section 508Information QualityInspector GeneralJAG Court-Martial DocketLink DisclaimerNo FEAR ActOpen GovernmentOSI Tip LinePlain LanguageQuestionsResilienceRSSSite MapVeterans Crisis LineCareers
Join the Air ForceAir Force BenefitsAir Force CareersAir Force ReserveAir National GuardCivilian ServiceConnect
            Get Social with Us
            
            Official United States Air Force Website
    Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil