Stents Are Associated With Increased Risk of Respiratory Infections in Patients Undergoing Airway Interventions for Malignant Airways Disease

Therapeutic bronchoscopy with stent placement is associated with a higher risk of infection than is therapeutic bronchoscopy alone. If ablative techniques reopen the airway and there is a good chance that the tumor may respond to chemotherapy and/or radiation, a strategy of initially holding off on stenting may be warranted.