Successful endoscopic dilatation to alleviate airway suffocation in a case with esophageal cancer after stent implantation

Intern Med. 2007;46(20):1745-8. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.46.0171. Epub 2007 Oct 15.

Abstract

A case of esophageal cancer who suffered from tracheal stenosis at the tracheostomy after stent implantation is presented. The patient received a covered metallic tracheal stent to seal the esophago-respiratory fistulation. After six months, the tracheal retainer for his tracheostomy was difficult to insert into his trachea due to the growth of the cancer. Argon plasma coagulation (APC) has been successfully employed in the dilatation of tracheal stenosis at the tracheostomy. We herein describe the use of APC as an effective treatment for further palliative therapy of tracheal dilatation in order to treat tracheal stenosis by esophageal cancer after stent implantation.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Airway Obstruction / etiology
  • Airway Obstruction / therapy*
  • Bronchoscopy
  • Dilatation
  • Esophageal Neoplasms / complications*
  • Esophagoscopy*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness
  • Palliative Care
  • Stents*
  • Trachea / pathology
  • Tracheal Stenosis / etiology
  • Tracheal Stenosis / therapy*
  • Tracheoesophageal Fistula / etiology
  • Tracheoesophageal Fistula / therapy*