Abstract
BACKGROUND: Benign tracheo-neo-esophageal fistulas after esophagectomy are rare and treatment can be challenging. They can result from perioperative tracheal injury or various postoperative complications.
METHODS: Charts of 6 patients with a benign tracheoneo-esophageal fistula after subtotal esophagectomy treated in this institution between July 1993 and August 1999 were analyzed.
RESULTS: Three men and 3 women (median age 61 years) developed a fistula after subtotal esophagectomy. Symptoms varied from mild swallowing difficulties to aspiration pneumonia and mediastinitis. Two patients with mild symptoms were treated conservatively. In 1 patient a long fistula was partly excised through the neck. In 3 patients the gastric tube was excluded or excised, with surgical closure of the tracheal defect. The alimentary tract was reconstructed by colonic interposition. There were no major complications. After a median follow-up of 1.6 years, all fistulas were closed. All patients were capable of sufficient oral intake.
CONCLUSIONS: A benign tracheo-neo-esophageal fistula after esophagectomy is a rare, but serious complication. Site and size of the fistula, together with the severity of symptoms, should dictate management.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 221-224 |
| Number of pages | 4 |
| Journal | Annals of thoracic surgery |
| Volume | 72 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Jul-2001 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Aged
- Colon/transplantation
- Esophagectomy
- Female
- Follow-Up Studies
- Humans
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Postoperative Complications/diagnostic imaging
- Radiography
- Reoperation
- Stomach/surgery
- Surgical Wound Dehiscence/diagnostic imaging
- Tracheoesophageal Fistula/diagnostic imaging