Silicone y-stent placement on the carina between bronchus to the right upper lobe and bronchus intermedius.

Abstract

Airway stenting using a silicone stent has become widespread for the palliation of airway stenosis. We often encounter patients with tumors involving the carina between the bronchus to the right upper lobe and bronchus intermedius. However, there has not been ideal stenting for such cases, especially to maintain the patency of the right upper lobe bronchus. We report three cases of malignant disease inserted with a Y-stent so that the bronchial limbs of the stent saddle the involved carina between the bronchus to the right upper lobe and bronchus intermedius. The respiratory symptoms improved immediately after the procedure.