ESOPHAGORESPIRATORY FISTULAS DUE TO ESOPHAGEAL-CARCINOMA - PALLIATIONWITH A COVERED GIANTURCO STENT

PURPOSE: To evaluate therapeutic effects and complications of a covere d Gianturco stent for esophagorespiratory fistulae. MATERIALS AND METH ODS: Of 95 patients with esophageal carcinomas, 10 had esophagorespira tory fistulae and were treated with a silicone-covered Gianturco stent . The authors retrospectively assessed patients' food intake capacity and delayed problems of the stent. RESULTS: All fistulae were occluded without immediate complications. Two patients could swallow all foods ; four, most foods; three, soft foods; and one, only liquids. Clinical problems occurred between 1 and 24 weeks in four patients: reopened f istula (n = 1), recurrent fistula (n 1) (both patients were successful ly treated with another esophageal stent), and dyspnea (n = 2) due to tracheal compression by stent and tracheal invasion by tumor (one pati ent was treated with a tracheal stent). CONCLUSION: A silicone-covered modified Gianturco stent is effective for palliation of esophagorespi ratory fistulae caused by esophageal cancer. Simultaneous use of a tra cheal stent is recommended for extrinsic tracheal narrowing by the pro ximal tip of the stent and invasion by tumor.