Skip to main content
Log in

Closure of esophagotracheal fistula after esophagectomy for esophageal cancer

  • Case Report
  • Published:
General Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Fistula between the trachea and esophagogastric anastomosis after esophagectomy is rare. We successfully treated a 75-year-old woman with such a lesion by single-stage repair. The patient had undergone radical esophagectomy 20 years ago, and repeatedly developed aspiration pneumonia for recent 5 years. Radiological and endoscopic examinations demonstrated the fistula between the trachea at the level of sternal notch and esophagogastric anastomosis. The fistula was separated and the defects on both sides were closed. A sternocleidomastoid muscle flap was inserted between the two structures. The postoperative course was uneventful.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Hordijk ML, Dees J, van Blank-Stein M. The management of malignant esophago-respiratory fistula with a cuffed prosthesis. Endoscopy. 1990;22:241–4.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Marty-Ané CH, Prudhome M, Fabre JM, Domergue J, Balmes M, Mary H. Tracheoesophagogastric anastomosis fistula: a rare complication of esophagectomy. Ann Thorac Surg. 1995;60:690–3.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Buskens JC, Hulscher JBF, Fockens P, Obertop H, van Lanschot JJB. Benign tracheo-neo-esophageal fistulas after subtotal esophagectomy. Ann Thorac Surg. 2001;72:221–4.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Saitoh H, Abo S, Kitamura M, Hashimoto M, Izumi K, Tenma K, et al. Closure of reconstructed gastric tube-right main bronchial fistula after operation for esophageal cancer, with transposition of a pedicled pectoralis major muscle flap—report of a successful surgical therapy case. Jpn J Gastroenterol Surg. 1995;28:1819–23.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. McDermott M, Hourihane DO. Fatal non-malignant ulceration in the gastric tube after oesophagectomy. J Clin Pathol. 1993;46:483–5.

    Article  PubMed Central  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Smith BAC, Hopkinson RB. Tracheal rupture during anesthesia. Anesthesia. 1984;39:894–8.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Gorenstein LA, Abel JG, Patterson GA. Pericardial repair of a tracheal laceration during transhiatal esophagectomy. Ann Thorac Surg. 1992;54:784–6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Reed MF, Mathisen DJ. Tracheoesophageal fistula. Chest Surg Clin North Am. 2003;13:271–89.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Song SW, Lee HS, Kim MS, Lee JM, Kim JH, Zo JIII. Repair of gastrotracheal fistula with a pedicled pericardial flap after Ivor Lewis esophagogastrectomy for esophageal cancer. J Thorc Cardiovasc Surg. 2006;132:716–7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Hoon JH, Song HY, Ko GY, Lim JO, Yoon HK, Sung KB. Esophagorespiratory fistula; long-term results of palliative treatment with covered expandable metallic stents in 61 patients. Radiology. 2004;232:252–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Atsutoshi Hatada.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Arimoto, J., Hatada, A., Kawago, M. et al. Closure of esophagotracheal fistula after esophagectomy for esophageal cancer. Gen Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 63, 636–639 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11748-015-0537-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11748-015-0537-8

Keywords

Navigation