Stenting for the Management of Posttracheostomy Tracheomalacia: Case Report

Abstract

In patients who undergo prolonged endotracheal intubation, tracheostomy is performed to prevent the tracheal and laryngeal trauma which may be caused by the intubation tube. In this report, a patient who was intubated after a cerebrovascular embolism and required a tracheostomy for 6 months due to decannulation problems is presented. The patient subsequently developed a tracheomalacia. A stent was inserted and seen to provide functional support. Upon removal of the stent, the tracheomalacia improved. Although surgical therapy is claimed to provide higher success rate, stenting may also be a viable option for the management of tracheomalacia and improve the quality of life in patients with good general condition.