Stening® High Pressure Stent
Code SAP
Description
With a more robust wall, this model is very resistant to max compression.
When any stent is put under a strength test that compresses it with loads that increase gradually, the stent’s paulatine deformation takes place until it reaches the cession point. Here, the prosthesis suffers a higher deformation, with a notorious reduction of its radial resistance to flattening. This break point
is about 900 g/cm2 in a classical stent.
In the Stening® High Pressure Stent the tolerance to compression increases surpassing the 2000 g/cm2.
Its wall’s thickness increase is accompanied by an inevitable reduction in the area available for air flow.
- Tracheal neoplasms with a solid extrinsic compression
- A severe tracheal compression that occurs again after the dilatation
- In replacement of a classical stent that collapse by extrinsic compression
Introduction technique:
The procedure will take place under general anaesthesia.
The implant of these type of prostheses can be made directly through the work channel of the tracheoscope or bronchoscope.
A conventional introducer for silicone prostheses can be used as well. A rigid endoscope will be used to access the airway.
The length and diameter of the area that the stent will cover must be established correctly.
If you want to know the length of the area, you can mark the tracheoscope when its extreme is located at the end of the injury. Repeat the process once the tracheoscope is moved up to the beginning of the injury. The diameter of the trachea or bronchi must be estimated by comparing it with the diameter of the endoscope used.
Retrograde mode of Implant:
- Lubricate the introducer nozzle with lidocaine gel, preventing the lubricant from reaching the operator’s fingers.
- Fold the Stening® over its axial axis and put it inside the prostheses introducer through its nozzle.
- Remove the nozzle.
- Surpass the injured area with the tube of the tracheoscope and put its distal edge over the healthy mucosa, exceeding from 5 to 7 mm the affected zone.
- Put the introducer inside the tracheoscope.
- Press the ejector while the tracheoscope is removed and the ejector plunger progresses. That is, the plunger of the stents’ charger has to be pressed as the endoscope is removed.
In this way, the prosthesis will be released. If it is necessary, it can be moved to a better position with an alligator forceps. The manoeuvre is much easier when the stent is lower than the injury.
Antegrade mode of implant:
Steps 1 to 3 will be repeated.
You have to stop the tracheoscope that contains the introducer and the prosthesis 5 mm before the injury.
After that, you have to press the ejector plunger slowly. By doing this, the prosthesis will be expelled into the injured trachea.
Some stents’ charger models are not introduced inside the tracheoscope, but they are added to the proximal extreme, from where the stent is expelled. To accomplish this, the endoscope will have to be stopped in a proximal or distal way to the injury, as it was explained before, to push the prosthesis with the plunger that is provided with the endoscopic instrumental. In this way, the stent will travel through the tracheoscope until it reaches the trachea. At this point, we will feel a small reduction of the resistance in the pressure performed on the plunger, showing that the stent has begun to abandon the endoscope interior.
Correction of the stent position:
The stent may require some additional manoeuvres, focusing on correcting or adjusting its final position.
It is preferable to correct stent that has been installed beyond the desired position than the opposite, due to the arduousness of pushing a stent that has been released before the damaged zone.
To move a stent in a proximal way, it can be taken by its edge and then you must pull with kindness.
To be more accurate we recommend a manoeuvre that consists on taking the stent by its edge as it was mentioned before. After that, you have to advance with the optical vision through the stent’s inside until you see its ending. Now pull the forceps and you will be able to see how the stent ascends through the airway.
Stop the pulling as long as you consider that the position is correct.
Extraction technique:
We will proceed to the intubation with the tracheoscope or the rigid bronchoscope depending on the case.
Of easy extraction, the silicone stent must be taken by its proximal edge with a crocodile forceps, with enough steadiness. Rotate the forceps 360º so that the stent bends, acquiring an omega shape and losing its radial resistance to compression. Then, pull the forceps and extract the prosthesis together with the tracheoscope.
The stent proximal edge can be introduced inside the tracheoscope. With this manoeuvre the vocal chords are protected during the extraction.
Other implant and removal methods are also possible depending on the experiences and preferences of the surgeon.
The special indications for the use of a high pressure stent ought to be observed.
The comparative tests detailed in the previous page show that the compression tolerance of a high-pressure stent doubles the one for a classical stent.
For that reason, the prosthesis colocation inside the introducer may fail. It is advisable to apply it directly through the tracheoscope.
Except on very solid tracheal compressions, the stent total expansion will take place in a short period of time.
The prosthesis removal must be done only when the compressive phenomena causes had disappeared. Proceed as in every removal case for straight stents and use a strong forceps.
Special indications:
The severe tracheal compressive phenomena are due to different aetiologies and can be accompanied by the superior vena cava syndrome or other disorders that have an intrathoracic venous circulatory difficulty. In these cases, as in presence of a mediastinal syndrome, it must be taken into account the anticipation of the application of a vascular stent before the implant of a tracheal stent.
The high pressure stent must be used by expert bronchoscopists.
- Maintain the moisture of secretions, whenever they appear, by taking nebulisations frequently with a warm isotonic saline solution.
- Perform a periodic check-up following your doctor’s advice.
- Take care of your oral hygiene and treat cavities.
The product should not be reused because this can cause cross contamination.
