The perils of esophageal prosthesis placement in malignant tracheoesophageal fistula

Endoesophageal prostheses are sometimes used in palliative therapy of esophageal carcinoma. Placement or subsequent manipulation of these devices may require general anesthesia, and these anesthetics are fraught with potential complications, both from the patient's illness and from the prosthesis itself. The two patients in our report presented anesthetic challenges, including acute upper airway obstruction occurring outside the operating theater and management of malignant tracheoesophageal fistula.