Airway stenting for malignant respiratory complications in esophageal cancer

Airway stenting is required for the palliative treatment of advanced esophageal cancer. This study retrospectively analyzes the outcomes of airway stenting for esophageal cancer at our institution. Data from nine patients who underwent airway stenting were reviewed. All patients had poor respiratory status due to esophagorespiratory fistula and/or respiratory stenosis. We retrospectively assessed the results of airway stenting as five grades of respiratory symptoms, regarding stent-related complications and clinical course and survival. Six silicone and six covered self-expandable metallic stents were deployed in five and six patients, respectively. Two types of airway stents were deployed in two patients, and double stents were positioned in the airway and in the esophagus of three other patients. The grade of respiratory symptoms improved in seven patients. The mean dyspnea grade was 3.0±0.9 and 1.3±1.3 before and after airway stenting, respectively. Stent-related complications comprised of chest pain, incomplete closure of the ERF, sputum retention and stent migration. The mean±SD survival of all patients was 103±108 (range, 0 to 325) days, and the survival of patients without relapsed cancer at the time of stenting, who underwent cancer-specific therapy after stenting, was prolonged. Although the airway should be stented according to the status and the prognosis of each patient individually stenting can relieve symptoms and improve the prognosis even when esophageal cancer is at very advanced stages. Airway stenting could play a role in the multidisciplinary management of advanced esophageal cancer.