Self-expandable metallic stents in oesophago-respiratory fistulas treatment in neoplasms - case reports and literature review.

Abstract

Self-expandable metallic stents (SEMS) insertion to the oesophagus is the method of choice in palliative treatment of malignant oesophago-respiratory fistulas (ERF). ERF evolve as a result of 0.2-5% of advanced oesopghageal or lung cancer. They also appear after radiotherapy. EFR are serious and lethal complications. SEMS insertion is an effective, safe, technically simple and minimally invasive solution. Potential complications of SEMS include thoracic pain, bleeding, perforation, stent migration, tumour overgrowth or ingrowth and food bolus impaction. The article presents three cases of patients with advanced lung cancer with EFR subjected to SEMS insertion procedure in our centre.