title: Use of metallic stents to salvage and maintain patency in surgically created esophagocutaneous fistulas.
abstract: The authors report a case in which metallic Gianturco-Rosch stents were used to maintain patency of a surgically created cervical esophagocutaneous fistula. The patient was a young man with a schizoaffective disorder who underwent esophagogastrectomy as a result of multiple suicide attempts with lye ingestion. Surgical reconstruction was not possible due to extensive tissue damage. A surgically created cervical esophagocutaneous fistula allowed drainage of oral secretions but subsequently closed. Metallic Gianturco-Rosch stents were successfully used to maintain patency of this fistulous tract, following balloon dilation of the scarred hypopharynx and the tract, which has remained functional for 10 months.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence 02903.
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Strautman
authors.forename: G S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Dorfman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002057:Burns, Chemical / Q000601:surgery*; D004940:Esophageal Stenosis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000601:surgery*; D004946:Esophagostomy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015607:Stents