Successful treatment for a benign esophagorespiratory fistula with perioperative nutritional management and multistep esophageal bypass operation: a case report

Abstract

A 49-year-old man was referred to our hospital for treatment of an esophagorespiratory fistula following 5-year airway stenting for stenosis of tracheal anastomosis. In consideration of the prior polysurgery and the patient’s poor general status and malnutrition, we selected multistep esophageal bypass combined with feeding enterostomy for nutritional support. Respiratory symptoms and pneumonia were rapidly improved by esophageal transection and decompression via a catheter esophagostomy. Nutritional status was also improved by enteral nutrition via a catheter gastrostomy. Four months after the esophageal transection, we conducted an esophageal bypass using an ileocolonic conduit because the right gastroepiploic artery had been used for omental reinforcement of tracheal anastomosis. The patient had no postoperative complications and was discharged 53 days after the bypass surgery. Multistep esophageal bypass including feeding enterostomy for perioperative nutritional management is a safe and useful alternative to direct closure for a critically ill patient with an esophagorespiratory fistula who is at high risk for operative mortality.