Airway Stent Placement

Airway stents are placed in the airway through a bronchoscope. They are placed for airway fistulas from tumors, tracheomalacia, extrinsic compression from tumors, intrinsic obstruction from airway tumors, and intrinsic stenosis from radiation or scarring. The stents are either silicone or metal and coated or uncoated. Silicone stents can be removed later after placement while the metal stents are usually left in place since they adhere tightly to the airway. The stents can be placed in the trachea or bronchi. In addition, airway balloon dilation usually accompanies and proceeds stent placement. The procedure usually is done on an outpatient basis or the patient can be discharged the following day after observation.