Abstract
A 49-year-old woman suffered from tracheal stenosis when in a supine position, apparently due to posttracheotomy cartilage deformation. Stenotic symptoms were improved by implanting a nitinol stent under general anesthesia with ventilation by a laryngeal mask. After 3 months, although granulation tissue projecting out of the mesh was observed at two points, the stent resulted in good patency and she was in excellent condition. Slight difficulty in spitting due to adhesion of mucous sputum to the stent was observed postoperatively, necessitating long term care of the airway and regular observation. The nitinol stent has many advantages : to be inserted without difficulty, to keep functions quite satisfactory, and to result in very few complications. The demerits of this stent were also discussed.
