Esophageal prosthesis in cancer.

We describe the use of polyvinyl esophageal prosthetic tubes to treat 14 consecutive patients with malignant strictures and tracheoesophageal fistula from carcinoma of the esophagus. We found these prosthetic tubes easy to construct, simple to insert, and that their use improved the quality of remaining life in most patients by diminishing dysphagia and incessant coughing from pulmonary aspiration.