OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the use of balloon-expandable metallic stents in the treatment of @entity1 with @entity825 and @entity17593 in whom conventional therapy has failed. DESIGN: Retrospective case series. SETTING: Tertiary pediatric otolaryngology and cardiothoracic surgery referral center. @entity1 : Six @entity1 were identified as having undergone bronchoscopic placement of metallic balloon-expandable stents between 1994 and 1997. The age at stent placement, prior surgical interventions, and indications for and sites of stent placement were noted. Also, the complications related to stent placement and the current airway status of the @entity1 were reviewed. INTERVENTIONS: Twelve balloon-expandable metallic angioplasty stents (Palmaz; Johnson _ Johnson Interventional Systems Co, Warren, NJ) were placed bronchoscopically in 6 @entity1 . Six stents were placed in the lower @entity825 , and 6 were placed in the main bronchi. The stents were balloon expanded under fluoroscopic guidance. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Discontinuation of mechanical ventilation. RESULTS: The age at stent placement ranged from 1.5 to 38 months (mean age at placement, 10 months). The indications for stent placement were (1) @entity825 or @entity17593 , (2) pericardial patch or slide tracheoplasty failure, and (3) @entity17593 caused by tetralogy of Fallot and large pulmonary arteries. The primary complication of stent placement was postoperative granulation tissue formation. One @entity1 required the removal of 2 tracheal stents because of granulation tissue formation. There were 2 deaths in the series, 1 possibly related to stent placement. Four of the 6 @entity1 were weaned from mechanical ventilation, and 3 experienced prolonged relief of @entity1224 . CONCLUSIONS: Metallic balloon-expandable stents are effective in relieving lower @entity825 and @entity17593 in select @entity1 . Only @entity1 in whom conventional therapy has failed should be considered for stent placement.

The use of balloon-expandable metallic stents in the treatment of pediatric XXXX and @entity17593 .

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['children', 'patients', 'patient', 'PATIENTS'] @entity17593 :: ('MESH:D055091', 'Disease') :: ['bronchomalacia'] @entity825 :: ('MESH:D055090', 'Disease') :: ['tracheomalacia', 'trachea'] @entity1224 :: ('MESH:D000402', 'Disease') :: ['airway obstruction']
@entity825 :: (MESH:D055090,Disease) :: ['tracheomalacia']
