A modified prosthesis for the treatment of malignant esophagotracheal fistula

Esophagotracheal fistula is usually a sequela of irradiation or laser treatment of advanced carcinoma of the esophagus or the tracheobronchial tree. Resection of the tumor in these cases is not possible, and palliative bypass surgery is highly risky. The peroral placement of a prosthesis is less invasive, but conventional prostheses often fail to occlude the fistula. The authors regularly use an endoscopic multiple-diameter bougie for dilation. After dilation, a specially designed prosthesis is pushed through the tumor stenosis to block the fistula. This procedure can be done without general anesthesia. The funnels of conventional prostheses cannot cover the fistula when there is either a w…