title: Treatment of cervical esophageal stenosis with a long-term indwelling prosthesis.
abstract: Intubation of the cervical esophagus with a long-term indwelling prosthesis is described to palliate malignant strictures, and manage benign strictures in high-risk patients. The inner cannula of a Moore design tracheostomy tube was used as the prosthesis. Over a 10-year period, seven cases were managed in this fashion. The tube remained in place in five of seven patients for periods of 1.5 to 11 months, while a pureed or well-masticated soft diet was tolerated. There were no major complications in this small series. Retrograde displacement was the most common minor complication; displacement did not occur in the last two cases after addition of a silicone sponge ring to the distal end of the prosthesis. Pain and discomfort was experienced in two cases, requiring temporary removal in one patient.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004940:Esophageal Stenosis / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007440:Intubation / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009333:Neck; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D011474:Prosthesis Design