BENIGN NONINFLAMMATORY BRONCHIAL STENOSIS - TREATMENT WITH BALLOON DILATION

PURPOSE: To assess the efficacy of balloon dilation in the treatment of acquired, noninflammatory bronchial stenosis of benign origin. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Balloon bronchoplasty was performed with fluoroscopic guidance 36 times in 19 bronchial stenoses in 16 consecutive patients, with use of a local anesthetic. RESULTS: Initial technical success was attained in all cases; clinical success was achieved in 13 (68%) of 19 bronchial stenoses. Six of the 19 stenoses were dilated unsuccessfully because they were caused by localized bronchomalacias. Of these initial successes, seven stenoses recurred but were redilated with success in four cases. At a mean follow-up of 21.6 months (range, 7-60 months), improvement in both fiberoptic bronchoscopy and respiratory status was seen in nine (69%) of 13 patients with fibrous stenoses. CONCLUSION: Balloon bronchial dilation can be proposed as the primary treatment in acquired, noninflammatory bronchial stenoses of various benign origins including stenoses after lung transplantation.