Page 55 - Virtual Vascular Vol 16

Can you identify the following medical equipment found in this CXR? This is a CXR belongs to a patient who suffered from carcinoma of esophagus,
which is complicated with tracheo-esophageal fistula

Tracheal and esophageal covered stents are inserted to cover up the fistula to
decrease the risk of pneumonia (prevent contaminated GI content to enter the

airway via the fistula)

She was admitted with GI bleeding with shock, intubated for mechanical
ventilation and a central line was inserted for vascular access

On CT scan, the stomach is distended and filled with heterogenous material
Answer: suggestive of blood
A. Endotracheal tube (This is a tube inside the airway which ends above the bronchus/ the carina)
B. Tracheal stent (This shares the same lumen with the endotracheal tube)
C. Esophageal stent (This is a stent in the mediastinum. It is not in the airway. It extends below the
carina. It also shares the same lumen with the nasogastric tube)
D. Nasogastric tube/ Ryles tube (This extends below the diaphragm to enter the gastric bubble)
E. Central venous catheter (This is inserted via the internal jugular vein at the lateral neck, travels to
the left brachiocephalic vein, to enter the SVC to the right of the sternum) 55