Emergency Airway Stenting for Tracheal Stenosis Caused by an Esophageal Stent: A Case Report

Esophageal stenting, which is a treatment for esophagotracheal fistula, can cause severe complications, such as perforation and bleeding, and the rare complication of respiratory failure due to tracheal compression. This study presented the case of a 51-year-old man who was referred to our hospital for airway stent placement in an esophagotracheal fistula. He had previously undergone chemoradiotherapy and immunotherapy for advanced esophageal cancer with tracheal invasion. A tracheoesophageal fistula developed during therapy and was successfully treated with the implantation of a tracheal stent with a length of 4 cm. Afterward, an esophageal stent with a length of 10 cm was inserted to improve esophagostenosis. However, sudden dyspnea developed 3 days after esophageal stent placement. Chest computed tomography and bronchoscopy revealed that the esophageal stent was placed 4 cm proximal to the tracheal stent and the trachea was extremely constricted by the esophageal stent. He was intubated and ventilated and an additional tracheal stent was implanted the following day. Following implantation, the stenosis improved and he was discharged without any complications. Airway stenosis due to esophageal stenting is a rare but potentially life-threatening complication. Therefore, esophageal stent-related complications should be considered when planning stent insertion.