Silicone stent versus fully covered metallic stent in tracheoesophageal fistula: a single-center retrospective study

In cases of tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF), closure of the fistula by tracheal stent implantation is an effective treatment. In this study, we investigated the efficacy and complications of silicone and metallic tracheal stents for TEF.

We retrospectively reviewed all patients who underwent tracheal stent insertion for TEF between January 2021 and April 2024 at our institution. Complications were assessed bronchoscopically.

Metallic stents were placed in 21 patients (18 men, 85.7%) and silicone stents in 17 patients (14 men, 82.4%). No differences were observed between the two groups in terms of age, gender, location or size of fistula, primary disease, symptoms or comorbidities. A total of 26 fistulas were found in the metallic stent group, and 19 fistulas were found in the silicone stent group. Stent insertion was successful in all cases. The differences in efficacy and complications after stent placement were not statistically significant between the two groups. Mucus retention was the most frequent complication (P = 0.221), followed by granulation tissue (38.1% with metallic stent and 29.4% with silicone; P = 0.734) and migration (14.3% with metallic stent and 29.4% with silicone; P = 0.426).

Silicone and metallic stents are viable clinical options for treating TEF. Both are equally effective and safe and have acceptable complication rates in TEF.