Gastrobronchial fistula: Treatment with a covered tracheobronchial stent and an integrated Y-shaped metallic stent

Abstract

A 53-year-old man presented with severe cough and pulmonary infection 1 month after receiving a second mushroom-shaped covered metallic stent for occluding a gastrobronchial fistula (GBF). The fistula was caused by an esophageal stent that was placed 4 months after esophagogastrectomy for the treatment of gastroesophageal stenosis. Six months before the patient was admitted to our hospital, he had undergone esophagogastrectomy for esophageal cancer; a thoracic anastomosis was created, and a wide gastric tube was inserted through a left thoracotomy. Multislice computed tomography, gastroscopy, and esophagography with contrast medium revealed a fistulous communication between the right posterior wall of the upper residual stomach and the dorsal segment of the left lower lobe bronchus after the removal of stents. A short covered stent and a partially covered integrated inverted Y-shaped metallic stent were implanted into the bronchi, and subsequently, the fistula was closed completely. The patient was discharged 2 weeks after stent placement; at the time of discharge, he showed full recovery and complete resolution of the symptoms related to GBF.