Results
54 PDO stents were placed in 26 patients (median age, 4 m). All showed
severe symptoms of central airway obstruction due to: tracheomalacia 9
patients, bronchomalacia 5, tracheobronchomalacia 10, and tracheal
stenosis 2. Stent placement was uneventful in every case: 29 stents in
the trachea and 25 in main bronchi. 53,8% of patients needed successive
stenting and all exhibited comorbidities. Complete clinical resolution
was observed in 8 cases (30.7%), partial improvement in 13 (50%),
unchanged in 4 (15.3%), and worsen in one. Age had a significant
positive impact in outcome (6 months vs 3 m.; p=0.024). Additionally,
smaller stents were associated with a better outcome (20 vs 26 mm;
p=0.044). Granulation tissue was the most frequent complication
(34.6%). Five patients (19.2%) died due to severe comorbidities,
follow-up was complete in survivors (median, 58 m).