Adjuvant radiotherapy, either external beam or brachytherapy, is also used in these circumstances. When tumor overgrowth is noted after stenting, subsequent periodic mechanical or laser debridement can be effective in avoiding airway obstruction. No complications have been encountered in our experience with the use of the laser to debride lesions through a previously placed stent. Patients with benign tracheobronchial stenoses that are not amenable to resection or to endoscopic debridement are best managed with either a Montgomery T-tube or Y tracheobronchial stents. Because of this problem, we prefer to rely upon the Y stent to manage such lesions.
Stents are otherwise well tolerated and offer significant palliative relief of symptoms.
Endobronchial Management of Benign, Malignant and Lung Transplant Airway Complications. Back to Lung Cancer .