Cystic Fibrosis Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Cystic Fibrosis, including details on symptoms, genetics, treatment, information.

Treatment of bronchomalacia in cystic fibrosis by silicone stent.

Herlitz GN, Sternberg DI, Palazzo R, Arcasoy S, Sonett JR

Department of Surgery, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York 10032, USA.

We report the case of a 15-year-old girl with cystic fibrosis and rapidly declining pulmonary function tests who was found to have collapse of the left main bronchus from bronchomalacia. She underwent successful deployment of an expandable silicone stent in the collapsed bronchus, after which her pulmonary function test results and her clinical picture markedly improved, obviating the need for immediate transplantation. A literature review yielded no prior reports of bronchomalacia in a cystic fibrosis patient being treated with a silicone stent. This case shows that a simple, effective treatment is possible for one cause of obstructive pulmonary function in cystic fibrosis.

Published 27 November 2006 in Ann Thorac Surg, 82(6): 2268-70.
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