Open AccessCreation of a Balloon-Expandable Bifurcated Covered Stent to Treat a Complex Left Anastomotic Stricture in a Lung Transplant Recipient
Author(s) -
Ryan Kern,
Keiko Sakata,
Steve G. Peters,
David E. Midthun,
John J. Mullon,
Eric S. Edell
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
respiration
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.264
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1423-0356
pISSN - 0025-7931
DOI - 10.1159/000486795
Subject(s) - medicine , anastomosis , stent , surgery , bronchus , balloon , lung transplantation , complication , airway , lung , radiology , transplantation , respiratory disease
Airway complications after lung transplant occur in approximately 10-15% of the recipients and often occur at the anastomosis, largely due to ischemia. To decrease anastomotic ischemia, surgeons minimize the length of the donor bronchus. However, a shortened donor bronchus creates technical challenges if a stent is required to treat an airway complication. We present a case of a lung transplant recipient with the combination of left main stem bronchial malacia and a triad of severe strictures at the left anastomosis, entrance to the left upper lobe, and left lower lobe. After failing several attempts using other modalities, success was achieved with in situ creation of a bifurcated fully covered balloon-expandable metallic stent. We describe a novel technique of punching a side branch hole through the wall of the stent to allow a left upper lobe stent to be placed through a stent directed into the left lower lobe in a Y configuration with a good clinical outcome.