ABSTRACT
Objective To design a kind of nasal feeding nutritional tube that can carry 125I particles,to use this tube for the treatment of upper digestive tract malignant occlusive disease in order to achieve double effect of nasal feeding nutrition and brachytherapy.Methods 125I particles were put into a 3F catheter,then both ends of the catheter were sealed off to make 125I particle chain.By using binding technology,the 125I particle chain was fixed on the nasal feeding tube.Under DSA guidance,the nasal feeding tube carrying 125I particle chain was inserted into the esophagus,with the 125I particle chain segment crossing over the section of esophageal stenosis or occlusion to conduct brachytherapy.This technique was employed in 6 patients with advanced esophageal carcinoma.The technical success rate,operation time and complications were recorded.Two months after the treatment,the Karnofsky score,visual analogue scale (VAS) pain score,Neuhaus dysphagia grading,esophagus patency on esophageal radiography,and local tumor control rate were determined.Results The preparation of nasal feeding nutritional tube carrying 125I particle chain was simple.The technical success rate was 100％,the mean operation time was 15.5 min,no serious complications such as bleeding or infection occurred.Two months after the treatment,the Karnofsky score,VAS pain score and Neuhaus dysphagia grading were significantly improved when compared with the preoperative data (P＜0.O1).On esophageal radiography,the contrast agent passed through the narrow area smoothly.Partial remission (PR) of local tumor was obtained in all patients,and the local tumor control rate was 100％.The patients were followed up for 2-6 months,one patient developed recurrent obstruction.Conclusion It is simple and easy to prepare a nasal feeding nutritional tube carrying 125I particle chain,the use of this kind of tube can achieve both parenteral nutrition and brachytherapy at the same time.Therefore,this technique opens a new way for the treatment of esophageal malignant tumor.