Open AccessEsophageal stents in children: Bridge to surgical repair
Author(s) -
Bethany J. Slater,
Ashwin Pimpalwar,
David E. Wesson,
Oluyinka O. Olutoye,
Sheena Pimpalwar
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
indian journal of radiology and imaging - new series/indian journal of radiology and imaging/indian journal of radiology and imaging
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 0971-3026
pISSN - 0970-2016
DOI - 10.4103/ijri.ijri_313_17
Subject(s) - medicine , fistula , stent , surgery , esophageal stricture , esophageal stent , airway , bridge (graph theory) , esophagus
Management of complex esophageal problems in children is challenging. We report our experience with the use of esophageal stents in three children with esophageal strictures, leaks, or airway-esophageal fistulae refractory to conventional treatment. The stent played a key role in allowing extubation of a child with a large tracheo-esophageal-pleural fistula and in the resolution of pulmonary infection in a child with esophago-bronchial fistula, both followed by surgery. In the third child, with stricture, stents were complicated with migration, esophageal erosion, and esophago-bronchial fistula. In our experience, esophageal stents were useful mainly as a bridge to definitive surgical repair.