Transtracheal esophageal stent removal: a case-series

Benign esophagorespiratory fistula is a rare but often lethal affection and difficult to cure. Possible treatments are surgery or esophageal stenting but may fail and cause respiratory failure. Two patients with spontaneous esophagorespiratory fistula after chemoradiotherapy for an esophageal malignancy were both treated by esophageal exclusion but esophageal stent were left in place. The esophageal stents were transtracheally removed through the fistula. The removals were successful, patients could leave Intensive Care Unit and returned home. Transtracheal esophageal stent removal is technically possible but very risky. Such situations must be avoided: esophageal stents must absolutely be removed before esophageal exclusion.