Double Stent Insertion for Combined Malignant Airway and Esophageal Stenoses: Feasibility, Safety, and Long-Term Outcome.

PURPOSE: We determined the feasibility, safety, and long-term outcome of double stent insertion in management of combined malignant airway and esophageal stenoses (CAES).

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between March 2005 and May 2014, 11 consecutive patients (9 males and 2 females), 56-78 years of age (mean, 63.4 ± 6.1 years), with CAES who underwent double stent insertion (airway and esophageal stents) were enrolled in this retrospective study. Data regarding the technical success, clinical success, and long-term outcome were collected and analyzed.

RESULTS: Airway and esophageal stents were successfully inserted in all patients. The interval between insertion of the two stents was 0-42 days (mean, 13.2 ± 14.2 days). No procedure-related complication occurred. Relief of dyspnea and dysphagia was achieved in all patients. The mean Hugh-Jones grade improved from 4.5 ± 0.7 before airway stent insertion to 1.5 ± 0.5 after airway stent insertion (P < .001). The mean dysphagia grade improved from 3.5 ± 0.5 before esophageal stent insertion to 1.3 ± 0.5 after esophageal stent insertion (P < .001). Stent-related complications included restenosis of the airway stent (n = 2) and mild migration of the esophageal stent (n = 2). There was no occurrence of airway-esophageal fistula after treatment. The mean survival of the 11 patients after double stent insertion was 105.5 ± 18.5 days. The cumulative 3- and 6-month survival rates after double stent insertion were 54.5% and 9.1%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: Double stent insertion is an easy, safe, and effective method in palliative treatment for patients with CAES.