One of the most common complications of Self Expanding Metal Stent (SEMS) insertion for Central Airway Obstruction (CAO) is Stent Migration. This study aims to identify significant clinical factors associated with stent migration.

A retrospective cohort study of all patients who underwent SEMS insertion for CAO in the said tertiary hospital in the Philippines from January 2012 to July 2022 was done. Patient, operative and stent factors were obtained. Incidence rates for stent migration and repeat intervention, and unadjusted hazards ratio were computed and analyzed for the different clinical factors.

This study had 61 patients, with 65 SEMS placed. Nine patients had stent migration within 30 days, while nine patients had stent migration after 30 days. Incidence rate of stent migration within 30 days was 0.0074 per person-day (CI 0.0047-0.012), and incidence rate of stent migration at any time after insertion was 0.0050 per person-day (CI 0.0026-0.0096). Incidence rate for repeat intervention was 33.33%. No significant clinical factors were associated with stent migration within 30 days (all p > 0.05). For stent migration at any time after insertion, obesity (patient BMI range of 25.3 to 30.7) had a 252% increase in hazard for stent migration (HR = 3.52; 95% CI 1.12-11.11; p =0.032), while procedure duration of ≥ 110mins had a 80% decrease in hazard for stent migration (HR = 0.2; 95% CI 0.04-0.97; p = 0.046).

Obesity and procedure duration of ≥ 110 mins were significant factors for stent migration. Causality remains to be established.