Rare and fatal complication of Gianturco tracheobronchial stent.

Abstract

Tracheobronchial stents are increasingly being used for the management of compromised large airways. Traditionally they have been used to palliate malignant conditions; however, they are now being used more frequently for nonmalignant conditions. The use of Gianturco self-expanding metal stent (William Cook, Bjaeverskov, Denmark) has been challenged for treatment of tracheobroncheomalacia, as fracture of the metal work could prove fatal. In this report we describe a case of fracture in the metal framework of a Gianturco stent resulting in recurrent pneumothoraces; heralding fatal haemoptysis as a result of perforation of the left subclavian artery.