title: Successful tubes treatment of esophageal fistula.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, China.
authors.forename: Ning
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Wei-xing
authors.initials: WX
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: You-ming
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Zhun
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Xiang
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fang
mesh_terms: 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