Korea develops first endotracheal tube tailored to children's airways
Published: 26 Mar. 2026, 13:40
![Dr. Kwon Seong-keun of Seoul National University Hospital holds a pediatric stent at the hospital's main building on March 20. [WOO SANG-JO]](https://koreaseafood.online/data/photo/2026/03/26/b453e29d-2204-474d-9cb2-a2431e8dc3dd.jpg)
Dr. Kwon Seong-keun of Seoul National University Hospital holds a pediatric stent at the hospital's main building on March 20. [WOO SANG-JO]
A Seoul National University Hospital doctor has developed Korea’s first endotracheal tube for children, replacing a longstanding practice that relied on improvised devices for a life-threatening condition.
The breakthrough could improve outcomes for children with airway stenosis, a rare disorder that narrows the airway and makes breathing difficult. About 100 to 200 pediatric cases of airway stenosis are reported each year in Korea, and the number of acquired cases is expected to rise as high-risk pregnancies increase.
Kwon Seong-keun, a professor of otolaryngology at Seoul National University Hospital in Jongno District, central Seoul, has spent the past decade treating children with the condition, handling a large share of cases nationwide.
He led the development of the new pediatric airway stent with Keosan Trading. The device was designated a “rare medical device” by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety last month. With that designation, the new device’s approval review period is reduced by half, and it can be approved based on fewer clinical trial cases than normal.
“Only I could do it. No one else could,” said Kwon.
Until now, no pediatric airway stents have been produced in Korea, and none have been imported. Doctors have instead modified endotracheal tubes — often the cause of tracheal stenosis, a type of airway stenosis — and used them as makeshift stents. These do not fit well with children’s airways and can lead to complications such as ulcers, granulomas and restenosis, creating a cycle of repeated problems.
“Premature babies often rely on ventilators for long periods of time, which can lead to airway stenosis,” Kwon explained in an interview last Friday. “It’s ironic and heartbreaking that the same tubes that cause the condition are later used in treatment because there are no alternatives.”
In severe cases, children must wait until around age three for their airways to grow before undergoing complex surgery to widen and reconnect the airway. Until then, they rely on tracheostomy tubes to breathe.
Even after surgery, maintaining the airway remains difficult due to the lack of proper stents.
![A photo of a pediatric stent invented by Dr. Kwon Seong-keun and Keosan Trading [KWON SEONG-KEUN]](https://koreaseafood.online/data/photo/2026/03/26/6f590758-f975-4c8a-8dd3-0e1eea8bb417.jpg)
A photo of a pediatric stent invented by Dr. Kwon Seong-keun and Keosan Trading [KWON SEONG-KEUN]
The newly developed stent reflects the structure of children’s airways, taking into account differences in tissue and growth by age and weight. It is expected to reduce complications and improve outcomes.
“Because the airway is limited in length, repeated surgeries are difficult,” Kwon said. “This new stent can help reduce complications and improve surgical success rates.”
The approximately 3-centimeter (1.2-inch) device will undergo safety testing this year, followed by regulatory approval early next year. The team aims to begin clinical use, with commercialization targeted for the second quarter of next year.
The development process faced major hurdles. Kwon confessed he had approached multiple companies about producing or importing pediatric stents, but they all declined due to low profitability, as the number of patients is small, while import costs alone can exceed 100 million won ($66,400).
A turning point came when the project was selected in November 2024 for a pediatric cancer and rare disease support program funded by a 300 billion won donation from the late Samsung Chairman Lee Kun-hee’s family. After completing a three-stage development process, the team secured regulatory designation in about a year.
![Dr. Kwon Seong-keun of Seoul National University Hospital holds a pediatric stent on March 20. [WOO SANG-JO]](https://koreaseafood.online/data/photo/2026/03/26/6e546c16-dc9b-42b3-8c8c-1a0aee093b1e.jpg)
Dr. Kwon Seong-keun of Seoul National University Hospital holds a pediatric stent on March 20. [WOO SANG-JO]
“Without that support, it would have been difficult to develop the stent at all,” Kwon said. “It also helped convince our partner company of the project’s broader significance.”
Kwon remains focused on his patients and their families, even while working on the device. He writes handwritten letters to children after surgery and comforts parents who often break down in relief during follow-up visits.
“Parents of these patients are incredibly dedicated,” he said. “They spend all their time caring for their children. I hope more integrated care facilities can be established to ease their burden.”
This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
BY JUNG JONG HOON [[email protected]]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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