Successful tubes treatment of esophageal fistula.
OBJECTIVE
To discuss the merits of "tubes treatment" for esophageal fistula (EF).


METHODS
A 66-year-old female who suffered from a bronchoesophageal and esophagothoratic fistula underwent a successful "three tubes treatment" (close chest drainage, negative pressure suction at the leak, and nasojejunal feeding tube), combination of antibiotics, antacid drugs and nutritional support. Another 55-year-old male patient developed an esophagopleural fistula (EPF) after esophageal carcinoma operation. He too was treated conservatively with the three tubes strategy as mentioned above towards a favorable outcome.


RESULTS
The two patients recovered with the tubes treatment, felt well and became able to eat and drink, presenting no complaint.


CONCLUSIONS
Tubes treatment is an effective basic way for EF. It may be an alternative treatment option.
Zhou
Ning
N
Department of Gastroenterology, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, China.
Chen
Wei-xing
WX
Li
You-ming
YM
Xiang
Zhun
Z
Gao
Ping
P
Fang
Ying
Y
D000368:Aged; D015505:Chest Tubes; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004322:Drainage / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D004750:Enteral Nutrition / Q000379:methods*; D004937:Esophageal Fistula; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013396:Suction / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome