title: Current treatment of tracheoesophageal fistula.
abstract: Tracheoesophageal fistulas (TEFs) often occur with esophageal or bronchial carcinoma. Currently, we rely on implantation of delicate devices, such as self-expanding and silicone stents, in the esophagus or trachea to cover the fistula and expand the stenosis in order to relieve patient pain. However, because each case is different, our approach may not be effective for every patient. Consequently, new devices and technology have emerged to address these situations, such as degradable stents, Amplatzer®devices, endobronchial one-way umbrella-shaped valves, and transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells. Although some studies have shown such alternatives can be reasonable solutions in special cases, further development of other new and effectual techniques is of utmost importance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory, Central Hospital of Wuhan, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
authors.forename: Changzhi
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory, Central Hospital of Wuhan, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Shengli Street No. 26, Wuhan 430014, China.
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory, Central Hospital of Wuhan, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory, Central Hospital of Wuhan, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
authors.forename: Wen
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Yin
mesh_terms: D001984:Bronchial Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D004867:Equipment Design; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D015607:Stents; D014138:Tracheoesophageal Fistula / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*
keywords: covered self-expanding stents; silicone stents; tracheoesophageal fistula