Recent advances in airway stenting

Airway stents have significantly evolved over the last 50 years. With development of silicone, bare metallic and hybrid stents, clinicians have an ever-expanding arsenal to address airway stenosis secondary to both benign and malignancy etiologies of central airway obstruction (CAO). Over the last half- century, clinicians have accumulated significant experience of placement and removal of airway stents, and management of post-stent complications. In this review, we will briefly address history of stent development, review available airway stents, and discuss current challenges associated with their use. We will also provide future directions in stent development and summarize recent studies to support our analysis.