A rare procedure of tracheal stenting performed at Yashoda Hospitals, Secunderabad

Recently, a life-saving, rare procedure of tracheal stenting was performed at Yashoda Hospitals, Secunderabad. Tracheal stenting is a procedure wherein a self-expandable stent is placed in the trachea. A team of Interventional Pulmonologists successfully performed this life-saving procedure in Ramanujulu, a 35 years old esophageal cancer patient from Kadapa.

Ramanujulu is suffering from a rare type of cancer in the esophagus. The cancerous growth in the esophagus is large enough to obstruct the adjacent airways and increase the risk of respiratory failure. Therefore, the team of pulmonologists decided to perform tracheal stenting by using a nitinol TPFE based tracheal stent to release this tracheal obstruction. “To save his life, the Interventional Pulmonology Team decided to place a self-expandable fully covered Niti S Tracheobronchial stent as a life-saving measure, until he gets his primary cancer treated by chemo-radiation,” explained Dr. Hari Kishan Gonuguntla, Interventional Pulmonologist who led the team.

The trachea is an airway that allows passage of air from nose and mouth to reach the lungs. Tracheal stenting was performed by means of bronchoscopy under fluoroscopy guidance. The procedure was minimally invasive, wherein the stent was placed through the mouth. Therefore, there were no surgical cuts required.

The patient was anesthetized for the procedure. During the process, the bronchoscope (a thin, flexible tube with a small camera at the end) was inserted through the mouth of the patient. The doctors then implanted the tracheal stent using fluoroscopy to guide them during stent placement.

Dr. Hari Kishan, Dr. Y Gopi Krishna and Dr. Gangadhar Reddy of the Interventional Pulmonology team were successful in implanting the stent and were able to relieve the symptoms of the patient. The patient is now undergoing treatment for primary cancer.

News Coverage

• http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/hyderabad/2018/may/01/rare-tracheal-procedure-performed-at-hyderabad-hospital-1808434.html
• https://www.ntnews.com/TelanganaNews-in-Telugu/yashoda-hospital-doctors-saved-a-person-1-2-573307.html
• https://www.ucnews.in/news/Rare-tracheal-procedure-performed-at-Hyderabad-hospital/1738076783768540.html