Application of ECMO to the treatment of benign double tracheoesophageal fistula: report of a case.

This report presents the extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO)-assisted surgical as a treatment of benign double tracheoesophageal fistula. The patient was a 43-year-old woman who presented the airway obstruction for 3 weeks after the esophagus metal stent implantation for the tracheoesophageal fistula 1 year ago. The airway obstruction was due to the expansion and piercing of the metal stent through the upper part of the esophagus into the tracheal cavity. In view of the failure of endotracheal intubation, we finally used ECMO-assisted surgery to remove the stent. And at the same time, cervical esophagostomy externa, exclusion of the thoracic tracheoesophageal fistulas and gastrostomy were performed.