1994 Volume 16 Issue 6 Pages 561-565
The patient was a 68-year-old female. Chemotherapy (VEPA) was administred for a malignant lymphoma (non-Hodgkin's lymphoma) which developed in the neck and mediastinum. The tumor showed complete remission, but a tracheoesophageal fistula developed at the site thought to have been invaded by the tumor. To treat this, a Dumon tube (outer diameter : 14mm, length : 60mm) was inserted into the trachea, and this was successful in preventing the development of pneumonia and allowing resumption of oral intake of nutrition. To date, the conventional methods employed for the treatment of tracheoesophageal fistulas that developed in connection with malignant tumors have consisted of creation of an esophageal bypass or intubation of the esophagus. In recent years, however, endotracheal stent intubation methods have been reported. In comparison with the creation of an esophageal bypass, the methods of endoesophageal intubation and endotracheal stent intubation present the advantage of being minimally invasive. Endotracheal stent intubation using a Dumon stent, as performed in the present case, can be effective in the treatment of the patients in whom the trachea is still relatively well preserved above and below the fistula.
