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

Adewale Isaiah Oyewole, Funmilola Olanike Wuraola, Amir H Sohail, Titilope Ogunniyi, Chinyere Nwankwo, Zainab Oyindamola Adegbite, Dorcas Olaide Ebekue, Clement D Awe, Elizabeth N Christian, Kristina Diaz, Oluwasegun Afolaranmi, Clara N Lambert, Dan Sherman, George Gutierrez, Chinenye Iwuji, Juliet S Lumati
Ally H Mwanga, Jeanine Justiniano, Eric M Mbuguje, Balowa Musa, Deogratius B Mwanakulya, Andrew Swallow, Edith Kimambo, Eva Uiso, Swaleh Pazi, Latifa Rajab, Nashivai E Kivuyo, Larry Akoko, Azza Naif, Advera Ngaiza, Sara Nyagabona, Jerry Ndumbalo, Amos R Mwakigonja, Jim E Littlejohn, Seif Wibonela, Cameron E Gaskill
Juzzel Ian Zerrudo, Patrick Vincent Aquino, Christian Joseph Tagal, Ma Erica Valdeabella, Christian Norwiz Buenviaje
Clara Pierini, Clara Mariano y Jelicich, Fabiola Bascuñán Acuña, María De San Martín, Aldana Casati, Cecilia Casullo, Marta Díaz Madero, Delfina Grennon Viel, Estefania Marzik, Gabriela Rodriguez, Victoria Viel Temperley