Long-term outcome of nitinol stenting to treat asphyxia caused by postpneumonectomy syndrome.

The long-term outcome of nitinol stents introduced into a patient with postpneumonectomy syndrome is described. Postpneumonectomy syndrome is a rare but crucial complication after pneumonectomy characterized by severe dyspnoea and recurrent airway infection caused by compression of the main bronchus. Surgical correction of mediastinal displacement and endobronchial stent placement are two major treatments for this complication; however, endobronchial stenting may be limited to those who are not suitable for operative procedures because long-term management is difficult in terms of controlling airway infections. A patient in whom we introduced double nitinol stents was successfully rescued from an emergent situation; unfortunately, he ultimately succumbed to recurrent pneumonia due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa 12 years after stent insertion.