Intubation in the treatment of carcinoma of the esophagus

Abstract Intubation for the palliation of dysphagia due to squamous carcinoma of the esophagus has been analyzed in a series of 1,135 patients treated over a 5‐year period. Tumors involving the upper thoracic esophagus in 1,045 patients were intubated with the Procter‐Livingstone tube using a pulsion technique. The hospital mortality rate in this group was 16%, with 80% of patients intubated swallowing satisfactorily on discharge. Tumors of the lower esophagus in 90 patients were intubated with the Celestin tube, using a traction technique. The hospital mortality rate was 20%, with 73% of patients swallowing an adequate diet on discharge. In 184 patients with malignant esophago‐respiratory fistulas, pulsion intubation successfully palliated symptoms in 75% of patients. Objective evaluation of the nutritional status of patients following intubation demonstrated correction of protein‐calorie malnutrition .