Balloon Dilation and Stent Placement in Airways

If you have a narrowing in one of the main airways, breathing can be difficult.  Your doctor can use a bronchoscope to advance a balloon into the blocked airway to expand it.  To keep it the airway open, your doctor may place a stent into the narrowed passage.  Much like a stent can keep a blood vessel open, a pulmonary stent can help to open the narrowed or blocked airway.