Weber S M, Schurr M J, Pellett J R
Department of Surgery, University of Wisconsin Hospital, Madison 53792, USA.
Ann Thorac Surg. 1996 Dec;62(6):1850-2. doi: 10.1016/s0003-4975(96)00645-5.
Traumatic tracheoesophageal fistula is an uncommon injury after blunt chest injury. Rapid deceleration against the steering wheel during a high-speed motor vehicle crash is the usual mechanism of injury. Previous reports document few cases of delayed diagnosis and repair of tracheoesophageal fistula. We report a case of delayed diagnosis of tracheoesophageal fistula more than 20 years after the original trauma and describe the subsequent operative repair.
