Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2019; 67(03): 232-234
DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1668597
Short Communication
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Endobronchial Ultrasound for Benign Tracheal Stenosis

Alfonso Fiorelli
1   Thoracic Surgery Unit, Università degli Studi della Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli,” Naples, Italy
,
Gaetana Messina
1   Thoracic Surgery Unit, Università degli Studi della Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli,” Naples, Italy
,
Carlo Santoriello
2   Bronchoscopic Unit, Hospital of Scafati, Scafati (SA), Italy
,
Mario Santini
1   Thoracic Surgery Unit, Università degli Studi della Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli,” Naples, Italy
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

24 April 2018

09 July 2018

Publication Date:
19 September 2018 (online)

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Abstract

We reported the role of endobronchial ultrasound as complement to standard diagnostic exams to better define the benign tracheal stenosis (i.e., thickness and tracheal cartilage integrity) and to plan the treatment with flexible instead of rigid bronchoscope. Under sedation and spontaneous ventilation, the flexible bronchoscope was inserted through the laryngeal mask airway that assured the ventilation. The stenosis was first resected with cold scissors and then dilated with balloon catheter. This strategy was successfully applied in five consecutive patients. Inclusion criteria for the procedure were stenosis < 1 cm in length, without tracheomalacia and with integrity of airway cartilage.