Reinforced endotracheal tube acting as an interval tracheal stent in critical tumor stenosis

Stenting is an established palliative procedure for critical tumor obstruction of the airway. However, it is available in few tertiary referral centers. Occasionally, emergency insertion of a tracheal stent is indicated for impending asphyxia. A 60-year-old man with critical tumor stenosis of lower trachea presenting at a time when a dedicated airway stent was unavailable. A reinforced endotracheal tube passed through a tracheostomy functioned as an interval tracheal stent till it was replaced by a dedicated self-expanding stent. If a dedicated stent is not immediately available, a reinforced endotracheal tube may be inserted as an interval stent in the occasional patient presenting with life-threatening tumor stenosis of trachea.