Cleveland Clinic physician Tom Gildea developed the stents to keep open the airways of patients with serious breathing disorders caused by inflammation, trauma, tumors and other masses.
Airway stents come in a limited number of sizes and shapes and are typically designed for larger airways, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Patient anatomies differ, making it difficult to get an exact fit. If a stent doesn’t fit well, it can kink or bend and cause airway complications.
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