Inoperable Carcinoma of the Esophagus or Cardia: Experience With the Palliative Celestin Tube Intubation

Abstract

A CONSIDERABLE number of patients with carcinoma of the esophagus or cardia are seen at a stage when surgical removal of the tumor is not practicable because of advanced disease or associated cardiopulmonary disease. In these cases, palliation is of prime importance. The criteria for successful palliation are relief of dysphagia, short hospitalization, and low mortality rate. Feeding gastrostomy and jejunostomy does not afford relief from dysphagia nor does it prevent regurgitation of saliva and subsequent aspiration pneumonia. In addition, the amount of nourishment that can be assimilated by these means may often be insufficient.^1,2 By-pass procedures using the stomach, jejunum, or colon are major operations offering palliation at the cost of a not negligible morbidity and mortality because of the often seriously debilitated state of these patients.^1,3 However, in a recent study, good palliation was obtained in most instances by the use of these by-pass procedures.²