Novel strategy of stents in thyroid mass: a case series report of managing severely dyspneic patients

Figures & data

Figure 1 Classification of the stenosing airway disease by the type of airway involvement.

Table 1 Type of airway stenosis and treatment of choice

Type of stenosis	Setting	Treatment of choice
Intrinsic obstruction	Emergent	Laser ablation, electrocautery, cryotherapy
	Elective	Surgical resection, radiation
Extrinsic obstruction	Emergent	Stent insertion
	Elective	External radiation, brachytherapy or operation (if operable)
Malacia	Operable	Resection and anastomosis
	Inoperable	Consider stent insertion

Table 2 Hugh-Jones classification for assessment of breathlessness on the basis of daily activities

Grade	Description
1	The patient’s breathing is as good as that of others of the same sex, age, and build while at work, on walking, or on climbing hills or stairs
2	The patient is able to walk with healthy persons of the same sex, age, and build on ground level but is unable to keep up on hills or stairs
3	The patient is unable to keep up with healthy persons on ground level but is able to walk a mile or more at a slow speed
4	The patient is unable to walk more than 100 yards on ground level without a rest
5	The patient is breathless on talking or undressing or is unable to leave the house because of breathlessness

Figure 2 (A) Three-dimensional computed tomography (CT) scan showed the narrowest part of the trachea present beneath the sternum. (B) Axial CT scan was done. A mass can be seen on the right side of the trachea, and due to the mass the trachea is deviated to the left side, compromising the airway tract before placement of the tracheobronchial stent. (C) After the placement of the tracheobronchial stent, the airway was recovered. (D) Dumon Silicone stent.

Figure 3 Bronchoscopic examination through the nose (A) showed that the trachea was depressed. (B) Silicone tracheobronchial stent of diameter 16×14×16 mm and length 15×20×15 mm was placed with the help of the bronchoscope. (C) Tracheobronchial stent placed on stenosed trachea site. (D) Final image after placement of the tracheobronchial stent.

Figure 4 Improvement of oxygen saturation value (pre-insertion and post-insertion).