Abstract:Objective To explore the clinical application value inserting metal tracheal stent or silicone tracheal stent under direct vision with rigid bronchoscope and electronic bronchoscope in treatment of tracheal stenosis caused by esophageal cancer invading the trachea.Methods The clinical data of 13 patients with moderate to severe tracheal stenosis caused by esophageal cancer invading the trachea diagnosed and treated by the department of pulmonary and critical care medicine from October 2019 to July 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. All the patients underwent rigid bronchoscope insertion under general anesthesia and muscle relaxation, and then metal stents or silicone stents were placed under the real-time guidance of electronic bronchoscope. We observed the clinical effect of the 13 patients.Results 7 metal stents and 6 silicone stents were successfully placed in 13 patients with central tracheal stenosis caused by esophageal cancer invading the trachea. The Karnofsky performance status (KPS) score, percutaneous arterial oxygen partial pressure (PaO2) and percutaneous arterial oxygen saturation (SpO2) of patients after metal stent or silicone stent placement were significantly higher than those before stent placement (P < 0.05). Degree of tracheal stent was significantly improved compared with that before stent placement, breath index, Borg dyspnea score, and partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PCO2) were significantly lower than those before stent placement (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference between the metal stent group and the silicone stent group in terms of short-term complications, long-term complications, 3-month survival rate, and 6-month survival rate (P > 0.05).Conclusion Placement of tracheal stent under direct vision with rigid bronchoscope and electronic bronchoscope in treatment of tracheal stenosis caused by esophageal cancer is feasible, safe, and has a significant short-term effect.