Bronchial stump fistula :treatment with covered retrievable hinged metallic stents-preliminary clinical experience / 介入放射学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To evaluate the preliminaily clinical efficacy and retrievability of a retrievable hinged covered metallic stent in the treatment of the bronchial stump fistula (BSF). Methods Between April 2003 and March 2005, 8 patients with bronchial stump fistula after pneumonectomy or lobectomy were treated with two types (A and B) of retrievable hinged covered metallic stents. Type A stent was placed in 6 patients and type B in 2 under fluoroscopic guidance. The stent was removed with a retrieval set when BSF was healed or complications occurred. Results Stent placement in the bronchial tree was technically successful in all patients, without procedure-related complications. Immediate closure of the BSF was achieved in all patients after the procedure. Stents were removed from all patients but one. Removal of the stents was difficult in two patients due to tissue hyperplasia. Patients were followed up for 6 - 21 months. Placement of the stents remained stable in all patients except one due to severe cough. Permanent closure of BSF was achieved in 7(87.5%) of 8 patients. Conclusion Use of a retrievable hinged covered expandable metallic stent is a simple,safe, and effective procedure for closure of the BSF. Retrieval of the stent seems to be feasible. (J Intervent Radiol, 2007, 16 253-257)[ Key words ] Fistula, pulmonary; Bronchialpleural fistula; Stents and prostheses; Computed tomography