Background: Self-expandable metallic stents (SEMSs) have enabled a approving management of malignant airway\nstenosis. However, the long-term efficacy and safety of this treatment in patients with benign airway stricture are\nunclear. We conducted this study to retrospectively determine the efficacy and long-term outcomes in patients who\nhave undergone SEMS placement for benign tracheobronchial stenosis.\nMethods: All patients treated with SEMSs from July 2003 to June 2016 were reviewed for symptomatic response,\ncomplications, and long-term outcomes.\nResults: Total 131 stents were successfully deployed in 116 patients. Ninety-eight patients demonstrated clinical\nimprovement after stent insertion (84.48%; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 77.89-91.07). Compared with uncovered stents,\ncovered stents were associated with more sore throats complaints or chest pain (13.89% versus 28.81%, P = 0.036) and with\nhigher incidences of major and minor granulation tissue formation and with recurrent stenosis (4.17% versus\n15.25%, P = 0.029; 11.11% versus 37.29%, P < 0.0001 and 9.72% versus 28.81%, P = 0.005, respectively). Each\ncovered and uncovered stent developing tissue hyperplasia required a median of 2 (range: 1-15) and\n1(range: 1-7) fibrobronchoscope with electrocautery therapy, respectively. At follow-up (median: 1276 days;\nrange: 2-4263), 68 patients had complete resolution, 15 remained under interventional treatment, 8 had\nbronchial occlusions, 7 underwent surgery, 14 were lost to follow-up, and 4 died of stent unrelated causes.\nConclusion: SEMS placement achieved most clinical improvement among patients in our study, if adequate\nendotracheal measures were used to address stent-related complications. The use of permanent SEMSs for\nbenign tracheobronchial stenosis was effective and safe for the majority of patients in a long-term follow-up.
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