Use of stents in head and neck surgery

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This paper provides a review of the most recent literature regarding the use of endoluminal stents in the upper aerodigestive tract. RECENT FINDINGS: New technologies and materials as well as modifications of traditional stents allows the palliation of patients with esophageal and tracheobronchial obstruction due to carcinoma, to obturate tracheoesophageal fistulas in patients who are poor surgical candidates and to provide temporary relief of aspiration while awaiting for definitive surgery. The use of stents for airway obstruction is limited by their tendency to migrate (silicone stents) or to produce abundant and airway threatening granulation tissue (self expandable metal stents). SUMMARY: Stents are best used for the palliation of obstruction caused by tracheobronchial or esophageal malignancies and for those patients affected by benign conditions but who are considered poor surgical candidates.