title: Erosion of esophageal stent into left main bronchus causing airway compromise.
abstract: Covered or uncovered self-expanding metal stents are currently used for the palliative treatment of neoplastic esophageal strictures or compressions and esophageal leaks or fistulas due to malignancies. Erosion of esophageal stents into the respiratory tract is a rare complication and that too has been reported mostly as an early complication within few days or weeks. Here, we present the case of a 31-year-old female, who presented with a late complication of an esophageal stent eroding into the left main bronchus causing respiratory distress. She was stented for a benign corrosive esophageal stricture following caustic soda ingestion 3 years ago. She underwent a thoracotomy and closure of esophagobronchial fistula along with laparoscopic esophagectomy and gastric pull through. Postoperatively, patient developed an anastomotic leak which was corrected by placing a temporary stent.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Apollo Hospitals, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aneeshkumar
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Apollo Hospitals, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sundararajan
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Apollo Hospitals, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Rajan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Santosham
authors.affiliation: Department of Bariatrics and Gastrosurgery, Apollo Hospitals, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Rajkumar
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Palaniappan
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Gastroenterology, Apollo Hospitals, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Ubal
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Dhus
keywords: Breathlessness; erosion of esophageal stent into the left main bronchus; esophagobronchial fistula; laparoscopic esophagectomy and gastric pull through; temporary stent