Clinical Experiences of Stenting in Patients with Esophago-bronchial Fistula: Report of Four Cases

The esophagorespiratory fistula is difficult to treat, and the patients' quality of life is generally poor due to suffering from dysphagia and dyspnea. We performed stent therapy in four cases of the esophagorespiratory fistula associated with esophageal cancer. Three of four patients showed improved symptoms, enabling oral liquid or food intake, although one died of dyspnea despite the therapy. The findings suggest that stent therapy is an effective method to close the esophagorespiratory fistula and to improve the patients' quality of life, although it is temporary and not a radical treatment.(Internal Medicine 39: 1088-1093, 2000)