A year ago, Antoni Rosell's interventional pneumologist team implanted a standard stent in a patient with complex tracheobronchial stenosis, but it was not tolerated and had to be removed. The patient had no alternative and was suffering suffocation. Then the team decided to go for a 3D personalized stent, perfectly adapted to the patient's airways anatomy. The surgery was a success and lead to the disappearance of the symptoms. Now the team will wait about one year to check if the stent will sufficiently stabilize the airway to remove it.
This kind of stenosis can affect everbody, at any age. The stenosis can be malignant (lung or esophageal cancer) or benign (inflammation post intubation, radiotherapy or tuberculosis).
Traditional stents not always fit in particular in case of complex airways anatomy, leading to discomfort or migration of the stent. The 3D personalized stents are designed from a CT scan of the patient’s airways, ensuring to fit perfectly the shape of trachea and bronchi.
Dr Rosell’s team is well known for his experience of stenting in case of benign and malignant airway pathologies and use to spread their knowledge through international guides. With this innovation they highlight the potential of 3D stents to treat complex tracheobronchial stenosis, offering hope and better quality of life for patients.
