Tracheal and Laryngeal Stent Comparison: Why Silicone is the Safer Choice

Thanks to the great evolution in the area of science. Stents are particularly important in providing a minimally invasive solution to treat numerous diseases such as LarPar, GOLPP, BOAS and many more respiratory emergencies.

Opinions are divided between the two types of stents in question, nitinol and silicone stents. Today, we will try to convey the reason we consider silicone stents to be superior to mesh stents.

Nitinol stents have become popular because of two significant characteristics: elasticity and shape memory. However, it is often ignored that they can lead to serious complications.

These devices have several significant disadvantages: from a high rate of infection to the formation of granulation tissue, fistulas, and stent fractures.

Are silicone stents the best choice of stenting device?

The answer is yes. In the case of ABTVet silicone stents, they are made entirely of medical grade silicone, guaranteeing biocompatibility and avoiding any type of rejection. Moreover, silicone stents can always be easily removed or replaced without damaging the area involved, as opposed to nitinol stents, which are costly to remove and involve numerous complications. (Lorenzi et al, 2024)

A study by Nathaniel P. Violette et al in July 2019 supports these concerns. In this study, 52 dogs were fitted with a self-expanding intraluminal tracheal stent for the treatment of tracheal collapse (TCS). As a result, more than half of the dogs developed complications: in 25% of the cases, the stent fractured, in 19% obstructive tissue growth occurred and in 12% progressive tracheal collapse was observed (Fig. 1).

Fig. 1 - Kaplan-Meier survival curves of 52 dogs that received tracheal stents for canine tracheal collapse syndrome, comparing dogs without major complications, dogs with fractured stents (MST = 600 days), dogs with obstructive tissue growth (MST = 1405 days) and dogs that received a second stent for progressive collapse (MST = 1769 days).

In addition, nitinol stents lack sufficient strength, which causes them to migrate in very active dogs and, as a result, to deform.

The FDA has also alerted the medical community to this problem. In a statement, it recommended considering silicone stents as a first choice in benign disease due to their favourable safety profile and ease of removal compared to other stents.

FDA-complication-from-metallic-tracheal-stents

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Self-expandable metallic stents in nonmalignant large airway disease

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Opting for silicone stents not only improves clinical outcomes, but also reflects a commitment to animal welfare, ensuring that treatments are safe and effective, minimising suffering and additional interventions for our animals.

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