Management of gastro-bronchial fistula complicating a subtotal esophagectomy: a case report.
Authors
Martin-Smith, James DLarkin, John O
O'Connell, Finbar
Ravi, Narayanasamy
Reynolds, John Vincent
Affiliation
Department of Clinical Surgery, St James's Hospital and Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland. jmartins@tcd.ieIssue Date
2009MeSH
AdenocarcinomaAged
Bronchial Fistula
Esophageal Neoplasms
Esophagectomy
Gastric Fistula
Humans
Male
Treatment Outcome
Metadata
Show full item recordCitation
Management of gastro-bronchial fistula complicating a subtotal esophagectomy: a case report. 2009, 9:20 BMC SurgJournal
BMC surgeryDOI
10.1186/1471-2482-9-20PubMed ID
20030856Abstract
BACKGROUND: The development of a fistula between the tracheobronchial tree and the gastric conduit post esophagectomy is a rare and often fatal complication. CASE PRESENTATION: A 68 year old man underwent radical esophagectomy for esophageal adenocarcinoma. On postoperative day 14 the nasogastric drainage bag dramatically filled with air, without deterioration in respiratory function or progressive sepsis. A fiberoptic bronchoscopy was performed which demonstrated a gastro-bronchial fistula in the posterior aspect of the left main bronchus. He was managed conservatively with antibiotics, enteral nutrition via jejunostomy, and non-invasive respiratory support. A follow- up bronchoscopy 60 days after the diagnostic bronchoscopy, confirmed spontaneous closure of the fistula CONCLUSIONS: This is the first such case where a conservative approach with no surgery or endoprosthesis resulted in a successful outcome, with fistula closure confirmed at subsequent bronchoscopy. Our experience would suggest that in very carefully selected cases where bronchopulmonary contamination from the fistula is minimal or absent, there is no associated inflammation of the tracheobronchial tree and the patient is stable from a respiratory point of view without evidence of sepsis, there may be a role for a trial of conservative management.Language
enISSN
1471-2482ae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
10.1186/1471-2482-9-20