Hi Everyone--
We are considering trying to put a stint in one of Anthony's airways to make his breathing better. Have any of you done this? We were all for it until the doctor mentioned signing a DNR report before we have it done. We thought it was a minor surgery with the only complication a possible respirator to help him breathe as a result.
So, can anyone provide insight on this???
Thanks!
Stint
Stent
It is called a tracheobronchial stent, used to widen airways suppressed by the lung metastases, it is a purely palliative option that is used when other options are not available but I do not see that you have explored all of them - some of them are much more effective and can provide him with a long lasting relief and improved quality of life. The thing is that it will prohibit the other options to treat this pressure - the cryotherapy, tomotherapy or radiosurgery can be done for the single or a few bigger metastases that suppress airways. Have you consulted Dr.Littrup regarding the cryo? He is in Detroit and we have very positive experience him treating troublesome metastases when surgery is not an option. I would also consult Dr.Luketich re. decompressing surgery, it will given an immediate relief. I know cases when he was accepting people who were on the respirator for month and they could breathe after.
You do not need a referral, contact these people directly:
Surgery - http://www.ctsnet.org/home/jluketich
cryo -http://www.karmanos.org/profile.asp?id=372
radiosurgery Novalis - Paul Okunieff, director of the Robert J. Flavin Novalis® Shaped Beam Surgery™ Center - http://radonc.urmc.rochester.edu/novali ... enter.html or http://www.urmc.rochester.edu/directory ... ov_id=4189
Do you know what is the cause of the compression, what is the size of the biggest metastasis. When was the last CT scan done, to get a consultation from these guys you need a copy on the CD (after you ask them).
You do not need a referral, contact these people directly:
Surgery - http://www.ctsnet.org/home/jluketich
cryo -http://www.karmanos.org/profile.asp?id=372
radiosurgery Novalis - Paul Okunieff, director of the Robert J. Flavin Novalis® Shaped Beam Surgery™ Center - http://radonc.urmc.rochester.edu/novali ... enter.html or http://www.urmc.rochester.edu/directory ... ov_id=4189
Do you know what is the cause of the compression, what is the size of the biggest metastasis. When was the last CT scan done, to get a consultation from these guys you need a copy on the CD (after you ask them).
Olga