title: [The application of Y-shaped self-expandable covered metal stents in the thoracostomach-airway fistula: a single center, 11 years experience].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the clinical feasibility and efficacy of Y-shaped self-expandable covered metal stents (Y-stents) in the management of thoracostomach-airway fistula.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective analysis was performed for 108 patients treated for thoracostomach-airway fistula with Y-shaped self-expandable coated metal stents between April 2003 and October 2014. Y-stents were designed based on the dimensions of trachea and bronchus and sites of the fistula and then were inserted under DSA monitoring. There were 65 cases with single big Y-stent placement, 26 cases with single small Y-stent placement, 23 cases with double Y-stents placement, and 1 case with 3 Y-stents placement.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Stent implantation was successfully accomplished with single manipulation in all patients. Complete occlusion of the fistula was obtained in 104 patients after the primary manipulation, and 4 patients required a secondary manipulation where a double Y-stents was inserted because of failure of primary manipulate. Ninety-two patients completed the follow-up , while 16 were lost. Fifty-nine patients died while 33 were alive with marked improvement in their quality of life.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The placement of Y-stents can effectively occlude the thoracostomach-airway fistula in patients who had had the esophageal tumors resected. The technique is not only feasible but reliable to improve the quality of life of the patients.
authors.affiliation: Interventional Institute of Zhengzhou University, Department of Interventional Radiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China.
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.affiliation: Interventional Institute of Zhengzhou University, Department of Interventional Radiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China.
authors.forename: Tengfei
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Interventional Institute of Zhengzhou University, Department of Interventional Radiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China; Email: hanxinwei2006@163.com.
authors.forename: Xinwei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Interventional Institute of Zhengzhou University, Department of Interventional Radiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China.
authors.forename: Gang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Interventional Institute of Zhengzhou University, Department of Interventional Radiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China.
authors.forename: Jianzhuang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.affiliation: Interventional Institute of Zhengzhou University, Department of Interventional Radiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China.
authors.forename: Kewei
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.affiliation: Interventional Institute of Zhengzhou University, Department of Interventional Radiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China.
authors.forename: Huibin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Interventional Institute of Zhengzhou University, Department of Interventional Radiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China.
authors.forename: Quanhui
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Interventional Institute of Zhengzhou University, Department of Interventional Radiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China.
authors.forename: Zongming
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D005402:Fistula; D006801:Humans; D011788:Quality of Life; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000069322:Self Expandable Metallic Stents; D014132:Trachea