Balloon Dilatation Therapy for Tracheal and Bronchial Cicatrical Stenosis

Abstract

We report six patients with tracheal and bronchial cicatrical stenosis who were treated with balloon dilatation therapy. Tracheal stenosis involved two tuberculous cases and one of post-tracheostomy stenosis. Bronchial stenosis consisted with two tuberculous and one post-bronchoplasty stenosis. The results in five of six previously treated patients were successful in maintaining airway patency. The only one unsuccessful case was one of post-tracheostomy stenosis resulting in secondary tracheomalacia. There were two longitudinal lacerations of the membranous portion of the trachea during the procedure, but these were minimized by low pressure inflation and stenting. In conclusion, balloon dilatation therapy appears to be useful, with easy to perform and involves a low level of invasiveness.