title: Palliation of malignant esophago-respiratory fistulae by permanent indwelling prosthetic tube.
abstract: Malignant esophago-respiratory fistula is an incurable condition calsing severe distress to those patients suffering from it. Sixty two successive patients with esophago-respiratory fistulae, secondary to squamous cell carcinomas of the esophagus, were intubated for palliation. The first 14 were intubated by a traction technique using the Celestin tube, and the remaining 48 were intubated by the Procter-Livingstone tube inserted by a pulsion method. Celestin intubation had a mortality of 64.3% but 75% of those intubated by the Procter-Livingstone tube were discharged from hospital, swallowing satisfactorily and relieved of their respiratory distress. In our experience the insertion of the Proctor-Livingstone tube by a pulsion technique, can be performed in a few minutes, with little morbidity and allows the patient to be discharged from hospital within 3-4 days of the procedure. It is a successful and acceptable method of treating malignant esophago-respiratory fistulae.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001983:Bronchial Fistula / Q000601:surgery; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D004937:Esophageal Fistula / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005402:Fistula / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007440:Intubation; D008171:Lung Diseases; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010166:Palliative Care; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D011859:Radiography; D014138:Tracheoesophageal Fistula / Q000601:surgery