Doctors treat chemo-resistant carcinoma patient using Y-shaped tracheal stent

Doctors recently used a Y-shaped tracheal stent to treat a 51-year-old patient with recurring chemo-resistant carcinoma in his trachea. The patient was only expected to live a few days or weeks, yet stenting extended his life.

The patient’s carcinoma extended to the carina (tracheal bifurcation) and involved the right upper lobe. A team of doctors, led by Dr Vikas Maurya, Director and head of Department, Pulmonology, Fortis Hospital Shalimar Bagh performed the stenting procedure within a span of 30 minutes, extending the life of the patient.

Previously, the same patient had sought treatment in four different hospitals before presenting to Fortis Hospital Shalimar Bagh. On evaluation, it was determined that he has a recurrent chest infection, shortness of breath, and haemoptysis, reported ANI.

Despite undergoing chemotherapy, the tumour continued to grow, and the lumen (air passage) was getting narrower on account of the same, making it difficult for the patient to breathe. This gave rise to further infection, with blood collecting and oozing from the site.

Talking about the treatment, Dr. Maurya said, “The case was complicated as we could not treat the patient with chemotherapy right away as it was a chemo-resistant tumour and had infection as well. Also, the patient and family didn’t want any general anesthesia being given in operation theatre due to advanced nature of the disease.”

Explaining the procedure, he continued, “So, first we controlled the infection and then we put in a Y-shaped trachea-bronchial stent under conscious sedation, in our bronchoscopy suite, thereby covering the tracheal length, carina and upper portion of both right and left main stem bronchi, which covered the growth and after expanding increased the air passage making it smoother.”

“It was a half an hour procedure that was carried out smoothly and through this, we have successfully prolonged the patient’s life, he could have otherwise died in few days to weeks due to airway obstruction caused by increasing tracheal cancer growth. The patient is doing fine now, breathing is comfortable, and has been coming to the hospital regularly for regular check-up and is on targeted therapy by Medical Oncologist,” concluded Maurya.