ecancermedicalscience

Case Report

Intubated patient of malignant central airway obstruction due to advanced esophageal cancer on ventilator support treated with radiotherapy: a case report

17 Apr 2025
Shubham Dokania, Ajay K Choubey, Shashank Tiwari, Prasenjit Nath, Jhansi Pattanaik, Sambit S Nanda, Ashutosh Mukherji, Satyajit Pradhan

Malignancies, associated directly or indirectly with airways, can cause a fatal condition, called malignant central airway obstruction (MCAO). Both endoluminal and extraluminal MCAO are conventionally treated using bronchoscopy-mediated therapies, but in patients unsuitable for bronchoscopic interventions, there are very limited options, especially if the patient needs ventilator support due to the obstruction. Few patients of carcinoma lung with MCAO needing ventilator support have been treated using radiotherapy (RT), with appreciable results. Though multiple risks are associated with shifting such patients out of the intensive care unit, these steps had to be carried out when RT was deemed the only possible solution. In this rare case of carcinoma esophagus with MCAO needing ventilator support and treated with RT, we have shown how RT can be used to increase the possibility of extubation of the patient. Hence, respiratory relief and extubation were aimed and achieved with RT in this case.

Related Articles

Joseph Daniels, Letlhogonolo Ernity Mosadi, Andrew Yaw Nyantakyi, Edwina Ayaaba Ayabilah, Judith Naa Odey Tackie, Kofi Adesi Kyei
Adu Bukola Gift, Michael Joseph Otorkpa, Oluwatobi O. Olayode, Ebubechukwu David Joseph, Ademola Abdulhakeem, Efuetlateh John Paul Nchonganyi, Feziechi Chikelundu Anele, Akolade Akeem Habib, Fodop Samuel Ghislain Junior, Oluwanifemi O. Akintoye, Omoregbee Benjamin
Dario Alvaro Rueda, Cecilia Schweitzer, Di Nisio Lorena, María Laura Piccoletti, Nicolas Torressi, Víctor Acevedo, Silvia Ferrandini
João Felipe Lima Feldmann, João Henrique Lima Feldmann, Cassio Murilo Hidalgo-Filho, Amanda Acioli de Almeida Robatto, Breno Jeha Araújo, Publio Cesar Cavalcante Viana, Gilberto de Castro Junior
Rima Saad Rassam, Ryan R Lion, Siham Cherkaoui, Laila Hessissen, Ximena Garcia-Quintero, Lama Sayegh Najjar, Dolly Noun, Janane Hanna, Rana Yamout, Shahzadi Resham, Khaled Al Habaiba, Anwar Al-Nassan, Joe El-Khoury, Spandana Rayala, Qutaibah Alotaibi, Nahla Gafer, Giuseppe Troisi, Julia Downing, Suheir Rasul, Sima Jeha, Monnie Abraham, Michael J McNeil