The (Hour)glass Half-Full: Modified Silicone Hourglass Stents for the Treatment of Central Airway Obstruction

Abstract

Central airway obstruction often presents with airway narrowing of differing internal diameters. Conventional straight stents do not fit these airways well and are prone to migration. We present a series of cases where hourglass-shaped silicone stents were customized intra-operatively to fit airway obstructions of both malignant and non-malignant etiologies and to improve patient performance status. Modified hourglass stents are a versatile tool to manage inoperable airway obstruction with unique anatomical characteristics.

Keywords: airway obstruction; lung cancer; rigid and fiber-optic bronchoscopy; silicone stent; stent.