ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the effectiveness and safety of esophageal covered stent for the treatment of esophagogastric cervical anastomotic fistula. Methods Retrospective analysis of clinical and imaging data of patients with esophageal and gastric anastomotic neck fistula treated by esophageal membrane stent implantation in the Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Zhengzhou University from July 2015 to June 2018. Twenty‐one cases, 15 males and 6 females were enrolled. All patients showed fistula after esophagogastrostomy for esophageal carcinoma. All the fistulas were located in the cervical segment of esophagus and were diagnosed as anastomotic fistula 2 to 13 days after surgery. The length of esophagus residue, the position and size of the fistula were measured by esophagography. We retrospectively analyzed the data of patients with cervical anastomotic fistula treated with esophageal covered stent. Patients were followed up for more than 6 months by review and telephone follow‐up. Results In the 21 patients, 19 (90.5%) were successfully implanted stents at one time, and 2 (9.5%) were placed at a lower position. The esophageal stent was implanted for 10 to 60 days (31±19) days, and the stent was successfully removed after the fistula healed, with a procedure time of 6 to 23 minutes. No recurrence of fistula was found during follow‐up. Four patients had anastomotic scar stenosis, and eating smoothly after balloon dilatation. Conclusion Esophageal covered stent implantation is a safe and effective technique for gastroesophageal cervical anastomotic fistula.