Airway Stenting Treatment in Turkey
About Airway Stenting
Key Highlights
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Provides immediate relief from severe breathing difficulties and stridor.Minimally invasive procedure performed via bronchoscopy, avoiding major surgery.Helps maintain airway patency in cases of malignant or benign obstructions.Can be a temporary or permanent solution depending on the underlying condition.Improves quality of life by enabling better lung function and reducing infection risk.Often allows for concurrent treatments like tumor debulking or radiation./ul
Who is this surgery for?
- Malignant airway obstruction from lung cancer, esophageal cancer, or metastatic disease.
- Benign tracheal or bronchial strictures from prolonged intubation, infections, or inflammatory conditions.
- Tracheobronchomalacia (weakening of airway walls causing collapse).
- External compression of airways from tumors, goiters, or vascular anomalies.
- Airway fistulas (abnormal connections, e.g., tracheoesophageal fistula).
- Post-lung transplant airway complications.
- Severe symptomatic central airway obstruction not amenable to other treatments.
How to prepare
- Comprehensive evaluation including CT scan and pulmonary function tests.
- Detailed bronchoscopy to assess the location, length, and nature of the obstruction.
- Review of medical history, allergies, and current medications (blood thinners may need adjustment).
- Pre-operative anesthesia assessment to determine sedation or general anesthesia plan.
- Fasting for 6-8 hours before the procedure as per standard protocol.
- Informed consent discussion detailing the procedure, benefits, and potential risks.
Risks & possible complications
- Stent migration or displacement from its original position.
- Granulation tissue formation (excessive tissue growth) around the stent, causing re-obstruction.
- Infection or mucus plugging within the stent.
- Airway perforation or injury during placement.
- Bleeding at the stent site.
- Stent fracture or degradation over time.
- Reflux of stomach contents into the airway (if placed near the esophagus).
- Persistent cough or foreign body sensation.
Recovery & hospital stay
- Initial monitoring in a recovery area for vital signs and airway stability.
- Hospital stay typically required for observation (usually 1-2 days).
- Possible chest X-ray or bronchoscopy to confirm stent position.
- Instructions on deep breathing exercises and cough management.
- Regular follow-up bronchoscopies for stent surveillance and cleaning.
- Medications may include inhalers, mucolytics, or antibiotics if needed.
- Avoidance of strenuous activity and heavy lifting for a few weeks.
- Immediate reporting of fever, increased shortness of breath, or severe cough.
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Typical hospital stay:
1-2 days
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Expected recovery time:
1-2 weeks for initial recovery; long-term monitoring required
Frequently Asked Questions
If you are considering airway stenting in Turkey, these questions and answers can help you make a confident, informed decision.
Top-rated hospitals in Turkey with pulmonology departments and experienced surgeons are ideal for this procedure. Use MediFyr to compare facilities, reviews, and doctor profiles before you decide.
Look at the doctor’s years of experience, hospital association, patient reviews, and how often they perform airway stenting. MediFyr helps you compare pulmonologists and book consultations online.
The overall cost depends on hospital category, surgeon’s experience, room type, implant or device used (if any), length of stay, tests, and post-operative care. Our team can help you get cost estimates from multiple hospitals before you decide.
Procedure cost in other countries
Here is an overview of how the estimated cost, hospital stay, and recovery time for airway stenting compare across other countries where we have data.
Saanvi Iyer, a 58-year-old former school...
Saanvi Iyer, a 58-year-old former school principal from Chennai, had been battling a persistent cough and worsening shortness of breath for six months. A lifelong non-smoker, her symptoms were initially misdiagnosed as severe asthma. A CT scan finally revealed a malignant tumor in her left main bronchus, causing significant narrowing. Her pulmonologist, Dr. Sharma, explained that the tumor was compressing her airway, making every breath a struggle. He recommended an airway stent, a small mesh tube, to be placed via bronchoscopy to prop the airway open, relieve her suffocating symptoms, and buy crucial time for her to undergo targeted radiation therapy. The procedure itself, done under sedation, was quick. Saanvi remembers a profound sense of relief upon waking, able to take her first deep, unimpeded breath in months. In the days that followed, her cough diminished dramatically and her energy began to return. Emotionally, the journey was harrowing. The constant air hunger had filled her with a deep, primal fear and a sense of her body betraying her. Post-stenting, the physical relief translated into immense emotional and mental liberation. The stent gave her back the breath to fight her cancer with dignity and hope, transforming her from a gasping patient back into the composed, determined woman she knew herself to be.