Abstract
A reconstructed gastric-role tracheal fistula (RGTF), an unusual complication after esophagectomy, is characteristic in posterior mediastinal route gastric tube reconstruction. In spite of occurring rarely, RGTF gives various symptoms, leading to a decrease in the patient's quality of life (QOL), which is often fatal. Therefore, early detection and appropriate treatment are required to improve the patient's QOL.
Although curative treatment for RGTF is surgery, in a poor general condition, conservative treatments such as airway stenting should be considered.
This case report shows a successful case where tracheal stenting was performed for an RGTF after esophagectomy for esophageal cancer. A man in his 70s who underwent thoracoscopic esophagectomy and posterior medial route gastric tube reconstruction at 1 month before. Since the patient's general condition was poor, and surgical treatment was difficult, he was referred to our hospital for undergoing tracheal stent surgery for curing the RGTF. A silicon stent was placed by a rigid bronchoscope under general anesthesia. Air leak from the gastric tube disappeared immediately after the tracheal stent was placed, and the general condition also improved.
