Rämö O J, Salo J A, Mattila S P
Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Finland.
Ann Thorac Surg. 1995 Apr;59(4):887-9; discussion 890. doi: 10.1016/0003-4975(94)00957-9.
Congenital bronchoesophageal fistula is a rare clinical entity in adult patients. This anomaly may cause various symptoms such as respiratory infections, coughing bouts when eating or drinking, and even hemoptysis. We present a report on 9 patients with bronchoesophageal fistulas who were treated in our hospital during the last 30 years. One patient died of pulmonary complications before definitive treatment of the fistula. Other patients recovered from surgical closure of the fistula without complications. Based on our experience, these patients should be treated surgically without delay. Observation may result in fatal pulmonary complications.
