Published online Oct 6, 2020. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v8.i19.4550
Peer-review started: May 9, 2020
First decision: May 15, 2020
Revised: May 28, 2020
Accepted: August 25, 2020
Article in press: August 25, 2020
Published online: October 6, 2020
Processing time: 141 Days and 13.2 Hours
Gastro-thoracic fistula is a serious complication after radical surgery for esophageal cancer, and a conservative approach or endoscopic intervention is commonly applied to treat most cases.
Here we describe the case of a patient with a gastro-thoracic fistula which could not be closed during gastroscopy after receiving postoperative radiotherapy, together with severe multiple drug-resistant bacterial infection and chest wall fistula. The abscess was drained and local irrigation applied with ozonated water, together with oral ozonated water, which achieved a good effect and highlighted a new way to cure fistula in such patients.
Patients with gastro-thoracic fistula that cannot be closed and severe infection can be treated by drainage and flushing with ozonated water.
Core Tip: We report a patient whose gastro-thoracic fistula could not be closed surgically following radiotherapy, and who also presented with severe multiple drug-resistance bacterial infection and chest wall fistula. The patient was successfully treated by draining the abscess and applying local irrigation, as well as administering ozonated water orally. This case demonstrates that adequate local drainage and anti-infection treatment can be used to cure patients with severe infection and gastro-thoracic fistula which cannot be closed under endoscopy. As a supplement to conventional therapy, treatment using local irrigation with ozonated water to control infection can heal patients with this condition.