Initial experience with a new biodegradable airway stent in children: Is this the stent we were waiting for?

Objective: To report our experience with a new type of biodegradable airway stent in the setting of severe tracheobronchial obstruction in children.

Design And Methodology: We conducted a retrospective and prospective (since June 2014) study of pediatric patients with severe airway obstruction treated with biodegradable stents in our institution between 2012 and 2015. The following data were collected: demographics, indication for stenting, bronchoscopic findings, insertion technique complications, clinical outcome, stent related complications, re-stenting, and time of follow-up.