Abstract
We encountered 8 cases of malignant airway stenosis due to advanced esophageal cancer, who were treated with a self-expandable metallic airway stent (SEMS). In all cases, the SEMS was placed successfully. No major complications, such as perforation of the trachea or massive bleeding, occurred. Five of the 8 cases could be discharged from the hospital and 2 were treated by chemoradiotherapy after the placement of the SEMS. The mean survival time after the stent placement was 124 days (9∼362days). Most of the patients with airway stenosis due to end- stage esophageal cancer are in poor general condition and have a poor prognosis, therefore candidates for stent placement should be selected carefully and informed consent must be obtained from the patient and the family. Airway stenting for malignant airway stenosis due to advanced cancer enables not only saving of the patient's life and improving his/her QOL, but also allows addition of further chemoradiotherapy to improve the life expectancy of the patient.
