Surgical Treatment of Esophagotracheal Fistula Caused by Esophageal Foreign Body

Abstract

We present a case of staged operations for the treatment of esophagotracheal fistula caused by an esophageal foreign body. The patient was a 32-year-old male with congenitally disturbed intelligence. He complained of vomiting and fever for 1 week. He underwent esophagoscopy at the nearest clinic. The esophagoscopy revealed that a cloth cord was obstructing the upper thoracic esophagus. Removal of the cord revealed severe ischemic changes in the esophageal wall and an esophagotracheal fistula in the tracheal membranous portion. Subsequently, the patient was referred to our clinic. First, he underwent a thoracic esophagectomy, patch repair of the tracheal wall defect at the fistula using the pericardium, and omentopexy around the pericardial patch. Esophageal reconstruction with the ileocolon was performed 23 days after the first operation. Anastomotic leakages occurred and were managed by spontaneous tube drainage. The patient was discharged 3 months after the first operation.