Material & Methods
Detailing our single-center experience, this study delves into the implantation of tracheobronchial stents in four pediatric patients with intricate airway obstructions. From January 2019 to October 2022, patients aged 2 to 18 who underwent stent implantation at China Medical University Children’s Hospital were enrolled. We performed spirometry, impulse oscillometry, and bronchodilator tests before and two weeks after stent intervention. Our choice of stent was Bonastent (Standard SciTech Inc.), a self-expanding silicon-covered stent. Impulse oscillometry was conducted to gauge respiratory parameters, including airway resistance at 5 Hz (R5), airway resistance at 20 Hz (R20), R5-R20, alveolar reactance at 5 Hz (X5), and resonance frequency. The application of impulse oscillometry offers a window into obstructive lung disease assessment via resistance measurements. A difference greater than 0.07 kPaA/(L/s) between R5 and R20 hints at small airway dysfunction (SAD). Further, R5 exceeding 150% of the reference value signifies obstructive lung disease. A reduction of 30% of R5 value 15 minutes after 200 mcg of albuterol inhalation would be considered as positive evidence of airway reversibility. (2). Medcalc 20.118b was used as statistic software for data analysis.