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Tracheal stents manufactured from polymeric materials such as silicone or silastics. These devices may include struts that project into the bronchial wall to help anchor the stent in place; they may be straight or T-shaped. Polymeric bronchial stents are used to treat upper- or middle-tracheal lesions caused by either injuries, benign diseases, or malignant tumors, facilitating the flow of air into the lungs. These stents are usually inserted under general anesthesia using rigid bronchoscopes; some plastic tracheal stents (e.g., T-tubes) require permanent tracheotomy. They can be used for long periods and extracted if needed
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