[Temporary minimal esophagostomy in the surgical treatment of malignant esophago-respiratory fistulas].

Oesophago-bronchial and oesophago-pleural fistulae are serious complications of oesophageal cancers. They occur earlier than is generally believed and, if untreated, result in death caused by septic and respiratory complications. An original two-stage surgical method is reported and illustrated by 3 cases. The first stage consists of excluding the oesophagus at both ends and introducing, through a small oesophagostomy, a Foley's catheter to aspirate the secretions; the cardia is excluded by stapling; jejunostomy is performed by the catheter technique. The second stage consists of oesophageal reconstruction. The functional result is of such quality that the indications for palliative endoscopic intubation, perhaps used too routinely at present, should be revised.