Figure 1:

A Dumon stent, previously treated with a spray lubricant, was loaded with a long thread (*) (A). The stent was positioned in a Tonn™ (Novatech) stent applicator and locked in the loading rod (B). The folding system was closed and the rod was removed (C). The introducer was inserted into the folding system and then loading rod was inserted in the opposite end of the system to load the stent into the introducer (D). The stent with the thread (*) was loaded in the introducer and made ready for deployment through rigid bronchoscopy (E). The stent with the thread (*) was extracted below tight and rigid stenosis, distant from the vocal folds 1 cm (F). The stent was easily retracted above the stenosis (G) and positioned just under the vocal folds in order to preserve airway patency and phonation (H). At the end of the procedure, the thread was removed (I). A chest tomography scan, performed 3 weeks after the procedure, showed the exact position of the stent (J).