A case of esophagobronchial fistula due to esophageal cancer in which stent placement was effective

Abstract

A 61-year-old man was diagnosed as having an esophagobronchial fistula while undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy for esophageal cancer. We placed a tracheobronchial stent (Ultraflex) on day 1, but it did not improve the upper and lower respiratory tract symptoms. Esophagography revealed that the fistula was patent. Therefore, we also placed an esophageal stent (Hanaro Stent) on day 26, which permitted the patient to eat and drink. He was discharged from the hospital, but subsequently died of cancerous pleurisy on day 106. We consider that the stenting for the esophagobronchial fistula due to the esophageal cancer contributed to improvement of the quality and prolongation of this patient’s life.