bronchoesophageal fistula

Introduction

A fistula connecting a bronchus with the esophagus.

Etiology

• mediastinal inflammatory disorders
  • lung carcinoma: large-cell neuroendocrine lung carcinoma (case report)
• foreign body ingestion
• congenital anomalies

Epidemiology

rare

Clinical manifestations

• dyspnea, chest pain, cough
• paroxysms of cough after fluid intake (case report)
• diminished breath sounds in the right lower lobe

Laboratory

• SaO2 93% on room air (case report)

Radiology

• chest CT
  • diffuse bilateral interstitial infiltrates
  • lung lesion surrounding the middle third of the esophagus (case report)
• barium swallow
• water-soluble contrast esophagography
  • contrast passing from esophagus to right bronchial tree & ascending to the right main bronchus & trachea (case report with image)

Management

• surgery
  • excision of the tract
  • primary closure of the bronchus & esophagus
  • interposition of vascularized tissue
  • self-expanding metal stent placed in the esophagus (case report)

More general terms

• bronchial fistula
• esophageal fistula

Additional terms

• tracheoesophageal fistula/atresia