Objective

This case involved a patient with squamous cell carcinoma of the lung which was invading the oesophagus. Following chemotherapy the treatment was palliative. Having undergone double oesophageal stent insertion the patient presented with symptoms suggestive of a tracheoesophageal fistula. During the first bronchoscopy a massive fistula was demonstrated. A tracheobronchial Y-stent of a large enough size was not available and hence a tracheal stent was inserted. A further bronchoscopy demonstrated the oesophageal stent eroding into the trachea and obstructing the airway distal to the tracheal stent near the carina. A Micro-Tech Carina Y-stent was inserted using the stent device achieving robust occlusion of the fistula. The patient was discharged home soon after. The ease with which this stent was inserted and its effectiveness indicates that thoracic surgeons should have such technologies available in their armamentarium for managing such massive tracheoesophageal fistulae.