Case Report: External fixation of airway stents for management of tracheal stenosis secondary to thyroid cancer.

Background: Thyroid cancer, in the advanced stage, often invades the airway and leads to tracheal stenosis. Airway stents can be used as a palliative treatment to restore airway and relieve dyspnea. However, stent migration remains a frequent complication, especially for lesions near the glottis. Simple fixing technology suitable for environments with limited resources is rarely reported. Methods: A 79-year-old woman with advanced thyroid cancer developed upper tracheal stenosis due to tumor compression. To restore airway patency, the patient accepted placement of a self-expanding metallic stent in the upper airway, but early migration occurred. Under combined ultrasound and bronchoscopic guidance, a simplified external fixation technique using a button was performed. Results: The stent restored tracheal patency, and the stent position was stabilized following external fixation. During the short-term follow-up, the stent remained stable, but the tumor progression, granulation tissue formation, and secretion retention were observed. Conclusions: The technique of external fixation with an airway stent offers a new choice for subglottic airway stenosis caused by thyroid cancer in elderly patients. This technology helps maintain the stent position in the short term in an environment with limited medical materials. However, further observation and a longer follow-up period are needed to assess its generalizability and safety.