Objective: To explore the factors associated with the development of esophagorespiratory fistula (ERF) after esophageal cancer surgery and its relationship with patient survival. Methods: A total of 241 patients with esophageal cancer after surgery, who received postoperative sputum suction through bronchoscope from West China Hospital of Sichuan University between January and December 2021 were included. The clinical data and airway features under bronchoscope of these patients were collected. Of the 241 patients, 203 were males (84.2%) and 38 were females (15.8%), aged (63.63±8.05) years. The related factors of ERF were analyzed by multivariate logistic regression analysis, and Kaplan-meier was used to analyze the relationship between bronchoscopic specific manifestations, treatment modality and patient survival. Results: Of the 241 postoperative patients with esophageal cancer, 21 (8.7%) developed ERF. There were 39 (16.2%) patients with bronchoscopic specific manifestations, including 16 cases (6.6%) of hyperemia, 13 cases (5.4%) of congestion, and 15 cases (6.2%) of erosion. Bronchoscopic specific manifestations of tracheal mucosa (OR=13.734, 95%CI: 3.535-29.074, P<0.001) and thoracotomy (OR=9.121, 95%CI 1.843-44.237, P=0.007) were independent risk factors for the development of ERF, and preoperative chemotherapy (OR=0.128, 95%CI: 0.052-0.607, P=0.006) was a protective factor in the occurrence of ERF. The median survival time was 224 (95%CI: 95-353)d in the stent-treated group (14 patients) after the onset of ERF, and the median survival time of patients in the supportive care group (7 patients) was 29 (95%CI: 8-50)d, and the survival difference was statistically significant (χ2=5.69, P=0.017). Conclusions: Bronchoscopic specific manifestations are independent risk factors for the development of ERF in postoperative patients with esophageal cancer and are useful in assessing the risk of developing ERF. After the occurrence of postoperative ERF, timely intervention by insertion of tracheal stents to seal the fistula may prolong the survival time of the patients.
目的： 探讨食管癌术后发生食管气管瘘（ERF）的相关因素及其与患者生存的关系。 方法： 纳入2021年1—12月四川大学华西医院收治的241例食管癌术后行支气管镜吸痰患者的临床资料及支气管镜下特征，其中男203例（84.2%），女38例（15.8%）；年龄（63.63±8.05）岁。采用多因素logistic回归分析发生ERF的危险因素，采用Kaplan-Meier法分析支气管镜下特异性表现、治疗方式与患者生存的关系。 结果： 241例食管癌术后患者中，有21例（8.7%）发生ERF。有39例（16.2%）患者术后存在支气管镜下特异性表现，其中表现为充血16例（6.6%），淤血13例（5.4%），糜烂15例（6.2%）。气管黏膜有支气管镜下特异性表现（OR=13.734，95%CI：3.535~29.074，P<0.001）以及开胸手术（OR=9.121，95%CI：1.843~44.237，P=0.007）是发生ERF的危险因素，术前化疗（OR=0.128，95%CI：0.052~0.607，P=0.006）是发生ERF的保护因素。在发生ERF后支架治疗组患者（14例）的中位生存时间为224（95%CI：95~353）d，支持治疗组患者（7例）的中位生存时间为29 d（95%CI：8~50 d），生存差异有统计学意义（χ2=5.69，P=0.017）。 结论： 支气管镜下特异性表现是食管癌术后患者发生ERF的危险因素，有助于评估ERF发生风险。术后发生ERF后及时干预治疗，置入气管支架封堵瘘口可延长患者的生存时间。.