成人先天性气管、支气管食管瘘的外科治疗

目的 探讨成人先天性气管、支气管食管瘘的外科治疗经验.方法 回顾性分析1969年至2007年10月,14例成人先天性气管、支气管食管瘘的外科治疗资料.瘘管多位于食管下段和下叶肺叶支气管之间.手术方法主要为瘘管切除或瘘管加肺叶切除.结果 术后症状均好转,无围术期死亡者.结论 成人先天性气管、支气管食管瘘可经食管造影、支气管镜检等确诊;手术治疗效果良好.     

Congenital respiratory-esophageal fistula in the adult. Report of nine cases and review of the literature.

Congenital tracheoesophageal or bronchoesophageal fistulas, if not associated with esophageal atresia, may not appear initially until adult life. Nine such cases (two tracheoesophageal and seven bronchoesophageal) are reported. The chief presenting symptoms were recurrent bouts of coughing, after drinking, and hemoptysis. In the majority of cases the duration of symptoms exceeded 15 years. The diagnosis was confirmed in seven patients by esophagography, in one patient by bronchoscopy, and in one patient the fistula was discovered incidentally during thoracotomy. The esophageal opening of the fistula was in the lower third in seven patients and in the middle third in two. Bronchoesophageal fistulas communicated with a segmental bronchus in four patients and with a main or lobar bronchus in three. Treatment involved excision of the fistula (five patients) or division and suturing (four patients). Postoperative follow-up revealed no long-term sequelae except persistent chronic respiratory failure in one patient. The respiratory failure had developed before treatment of the fistula. The analysis of this series and a review of the literature underline the high index of suspicion required in all cases of chronic cough and lung suppuration, to diagnose this benign condition before life-threatening complications occur.     

External diversion for palliative treatment of malignant tracheoesophageal or bronchoesophageal fistulas.

The creation of cervical esophagostomy, distal esophageal ligation, and a feeding gastrostomy in combination with an external bypass device for the treatment of malignant tracheoesophageal and bronchoesophageal fistulas offers a simple and rational approach for a critical situation in which more extensive surgical procedures are neither warranted nor more effective.     

Thoracoscopic repair for esophageal pulmonary fistula after esophageal atresia repair

BackgroundEsophageal pulmonary fistula is a special type of acquired tracheoesophageal fistula that occurs after esophageal atresia/tracheoesophageal fistula repair. Thoracotomy is the surgical repair method currently in use, but postoperative outcomes are unclear. Therefore, we aimed to explore the preliminary safety, effectiveness, and feasibility of thoracoscopic surgical repair of esophageal pulmonary fistula.MethodsWe retrospectively collected data from all patients with esophageal atresia/tracheoesophageal fistula at Beijing Children's Hospital from January 2017 to October 2021, and the clinical characteristics of patients with esophageal pulmonary fistula were analyzed. Clinical information was recorded, and follow-up was performed.ResultsSeven patients (five boys and two girls) were diagnosed as esophageal pulmonary fistula. All patients underwent multiple esophageal surgeries and had esophageal strictures before surgical repair. Clinical manifestations included cough, expectoration, and recurrent pneumonia. Esophagography indicated the location of the fistula with a 100% positive rate, while the positive rate of flexible bronchoscopy and chest computed tomography was 57% (4/7) and 43% (3/7), respectively. Surgical repair was achieved using thoracoscopy with an average operation time of 172 min. All patients developed esophageal strictures, four of which had refractory esophageal strictures and underwent esophageal dilations ranged from 5 to 56 times before this surgery, but anastomotic leakage or acquired esophageal pulmonary fistulas were absent post-surgery. After a median follow-up of 22 months, all patients survived, and the symptoms were well controlled.ConclusionsEsophageal pulmonary fistula is a rare complication of atresia/tracheoesophageal fistula repair. Thoracoscopic surgery is still possible even after previous multiple surgeries in the chest with significant complications and satisfactory results can be achieved in the short term.Level of EvidenceLevel III     

The effectiveness of palliative resection for advanced esophageal carcinoma: analysis of 24 consecutive cases

Purpose: In some patients who already have advanced esophageal cancer at the time of presentation, symptoms like the inability to eat, and complications such as bronchoesophageal fistula are so debilitating that palliative resection may be beneficial. However, resection of the esophagus is associated with significant risk, and whether this operation should be performed for palliation remains controversial. Because few reports have been published on this subject, we retrospectively analyzed 24 patients with esophageal cancer who underwent palliative resection. Methods: Esophageal resection was performed with palliative intent in 12 patients and with curative intent in another 12 who were left with residual cancer. Results: There was no operative death. All of the ten patients who had been unable to eat preoperatively were able to eat after the operation, and four patients with a life-threatening bronchoesophageal fistula were free of symptoms after the operation. Two patients died in hospital during the postoperative chemotherapy but the other 22 were discharged. The mean survival period was 264 days. Conclusions: With improved postoperative care, the risk of palliative esophageal resection is no longer considered unacceptable. Received: July 2, 2001 / Accepted: March 5, 2002     

Evaluation and outcome of different surgical techniques for postintubation tracheoesophageal fistulas

OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the outcome of different surgical techniques for postintubation tracheoesophageal fistula. METHODS: Thirty-two consecutive patients aged 51 +/- 23 years had tracheoesophageal fistulas resulting from a median of 30 days of mechanical ventilation via endotracheal (n = 12) or tracheostomy (n = 20) tubes. Tracheoesophageal fistulas were 2.5 +/- 1.2 cm long and were associated with a tracheal (n = 10) or subglottic (n = 3) stenosis in 13 patients. RESULTS: All but 3 patients were weaned from respirators before repair. All operations were done through cervical incisions and included direct division and closure (n = 9), esophageal diversion (n = 3), muscle interposition (n = 6), or, more recently, tracheal or laryngotracheal resection and anastomosis with primary esophageal closure (n = 14). Nine thyrohyoid and two supralaryngeal releases reduced anastomotic tension. Twenty-three patients (74%) were extubated after the operation (n = 16) or within 24 hours (n = 7), and 7 required a temporary tracheotomy tube. One postoperative death (3%) was associated with recurrent tracheoesophageal fistula. Seven complications (22%) included recurrent tracheoesophageal fistula (n = 1), delayed tracheal stenosis (n = 2), dysphagia (n = 2), and recurrent nerve palsy (n = 2). Complications necessitated reoperation (n = 1), dilation (n = 2), definitive tracheostomy (n = 1), Montgomery T tubes (n = 1), and Teflon injection of the vocal cords (n = 1). Twenty-nine patients (93%) had excellent (n = 24) or good (n = 5) anatomic and functional long-term results. Complications have been less common (7% vs 38%) and long-term results better (93% vs 65%) recently with tracheal or laryngotracheal resection and anastomosis with primary esophageal closure as compared with previous procedures. CONCLUSIONS: Postintubation tracheoesophageal fistula is usually best treated with tracheal or laryngotracheal resection and anastomosis with primary esophageal closure even in the absence of tracheal damage.     

Management of esophageal perforation secondary to caustic esophageal injury in children

Purpose To review our management of esophageal perforation in children with caustic esophageal injury. Method We reviewed the medical records of 22 children treated for esophageal perforations that occurred secondary to caustic esophageal injury. Results There were 18 boys and 4 girls (mean age, 5 years; range, 2–12 years). Three children were treated for perforation during diagnostic endoscopy and 19 were treated for a collective 21 episodes of perforation during balloon dilatation. One child died after undergoing emergency surgery for tracheoesophageal fistula and pneumoperitoneum. Another patient underwent esophagostomy and gastrostomy. Twenty patients were treated conservatively with a nasogastric tube, broad spectrum antibiotics, and tube thoracostomy, 16 of whom responded but 4 required esophagostomy and gastrostomy. Although the perforation healed in 21 patients, 20 were left with a stricture. Two children were lost to follow-up, 8 underwent colonic interposition, and 10 continued to receive periodic balloon dilatations. Two of these 10 patients underwent colonic interposition after a second perforation. The other 8 became resistant to dilatations: 4 were treated by colon interposition; 2, by resection and anastomosis; and 2, by an esophageal stent. Conclusions Esophageal perforation can be managed conservatively. Because strictures tend to become resistant to balloon dilatation, resection and anastomosis is preferred if they are up to 1 cm in length, otherwise colonic interposition is indicated.     

The management of treatment-related esophageal complications in children and adolescents with cancer

Background and Purpose

Serious treatment-induced esophageal strictures and tracheoesophageal fistulae are rare in the pediatric oncology population. This report details our experience with their management.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed our experience with pediatric oncology patients treated for esophageal complications over a 23-year period. Serious complications were defined as development of strictures requiring dilatation or an esophageal fistula. Fifteen patients were identified, 5 of which had been previously reported.

Results

Thirteen patients developed esophageal stricture, and 2 progressed to tracheoesophageal fistulae. The remaining 2 patients developed tracheoesophageal fistulae without antecedent stricture. The median interval from cancer diagnosis until development of esophageal complications was 3.5 years (range, 0.4-11.8 years). Before development of esophageal complication, 14 patients (93%) were treated with mediastinal radiation and 7 (47%) for candidal esophagitis.Strictures were most commonly located in the distal esophagus (5), then midesophagus (3), cervical esophagus (3) and diffusely (2). A median of 5 dilatations (range, 1-50) were necessary before patients were able to resume a normal diet. The origin of tracheoesophageal fistulae was the midesophagus (3) and distal esophagus (1). All 4 patients with fistulae were treated with esophageal division and diversion followed by esophagocoloplasty.

Conclusions

Esophageal strictures and fistulae may occur because of cancer therapy in childhood. Prevention includes early treatment of esophagitis especially Candida mucositis, and minimization of radiation dose to the esophagus. Strictures usually respond to dilatation, but fistulae require esophageal diversion and secondary reconstruction.     

Esophageal Atresia and Tracheoesophageal Fistula: Surgical Experience Over Two Decades

Background. Despite improvements in survival, for infants born with esophageal atresia tracheoesophageal fistula, or both, the morbidity associated with repair of these anomalies remains high.Methods. This report retrospectively analyzes 81 patients with esophageal atresia, tracheoesophageal fistula, or both presenting to our institution between 1975 and 1995, with a focus on anastomotic complications.Results. There were 46 male and 35 female patients with a mean gestational age of 37 weeks and mean birth weight of 2443 g. Forty-four patients underwent primary esophageal anastomoses, 7 underwent delayed primary anastomoses, 12 patients underwent staged repairs, and 5 underwent repair of H-type fistulas. Among 62 patients with anastomoses, complications included stricture in 25/62 patients (40%), leakage in 12/62 patients (19%), and recurrent tracheoesophageal fistulas in 6/62 patients (10%). Stricture rates for esophagocolonic anastomoses versus esophagoesophageal anastomoses were 4/8 cases (50%) versus 21/54 cases (39%). This difference was not statistically significant. All esophagoesophageal strictures were managed successfully with dilations; three of four esophagocolonic strictures required anastomotic revision. The leakage rate for esophagocolonic anastomoses versus esophagoesophageal anastomoses was 6/8 cases (75%) versus 6/54 cases (11%). This difference was statistically significant (p = 0.0003). Two patients required revision of their colon grafts secondary to necrosis. Eighteen of 81 patients (22%) died. Operative mortality was 9/74 (12%). Causes of death included associated anomalies (n = 15), recurrent aspiration and sepsis secondary to missed fistula (n = 1), and unknown (n = 2).Conclusions. Although the morbidity associated with surgical repair of these anomalies is high, this does not affect the overall survival. The high complication rate associated with colonic interposition suggests that one should preserve the native esophagus as a primary conduit whenever feasible.     

Bronchoesophageal fistula with an esophageal web

Congenital bronchoesophageal fistulas in the adult age group are rare, with only approximately 20 cases having been recognized. All of these cases have been an isolated esophageal anomaly without other associated esophageal pathology. We present an interesting case of an adult with both symptomatic congenital bronchoesophageal fistula and proximal esophageal web.     

Double stent for malignant combined esophago-airway lesions

OBJECTIVE: Combined esophago-airway stenosis and/or esophago-airway fistula due to malignancy bodes a dismal prognosis. We describe our work with double stents for combined esophago-airway lesions. METHODS: Between February 1994 and July 2000, we treated 11 patients using double stents--the Dumon stent for the airway and the covered Ultraflex for the esophagus. Double stenting was necessitated by combined esophago-airway stenosis in 8 patients and fistulas in 3, of these, 6 had lung cancer and 5 esophageal cancer. RESULTS: In all but 1 ventilator-dependent patient, dyspnea and dysphagia were significantly reduced and fistula was successfully closed after double stenting. This palliation effectively continued more than 1 month in 5 patients, more than 2 months in 3, and more than 3 months in 2. Mean survival was 64 days (range: 9 to 148 days). Life-threatening complications developed in 5 (45%)--massive bleeding in 3 and uncontrollable esophago-airway fistula in 2. All 5 had received prior radiation. CONCLUSION: Although patients who received radiation frequently had life-threatening complications after double stenting, this procedure improved the quality of life in patients with esophago-airway stenosis or fistulas due to lung or esophageal cancer.     

Functional outcomes and donor site morbidity following circumferential pharyngoesophageal reconstruction using an anterolateral thigh flap and salivary bypass tube

BACKGROUND: This study reports our experience with fasciocutaneous reconstruction of circumferential pharyngoesophageal defects using an anterolateral thigh flap wrapped around a salivary bypass tube. METHODS: The charts of 14 patients were reviewed. All patients who had reconstruction of a pharyngoesophageal defect using an anterolateral thigh flap with a salivary bypass tube between 2001 and 2005 were included. RESULTS: There were 10 men and 4 women (mean age, 61 years). There were no fistulae reported, and the stricture rate was 14%. Eleven patients achieved oral diet sufficient to have the gastrostomy or jejunal tube removed. The patients who had tracheoesophageal puncture for voice developed functional speech. There were no flap losses. However, problems with salivary tube migration in the early cases have led to technique refinement. CONCLUSIONS: The low complication rates and the excellent functional outcomes make the anterolateral thigh flap in combination with a salivary bypass tube a viable option for reconstruction of these difficult defects.     

Giant tracheoesophageal fistula: management by esophageal diversion

Giant tracheoesophageal fistulas complicating the management of respiratory insufficiency are often difficult to close successfully because of suture line tension and narrowing of the trachea or esophagus or both. Recovery of lung function often depends on successful diversion of gastrointestinal contents from the tracheobrachial tree. We have managed six patients with giant tracheoesophageal fistula. In three cases the lesions were related to overinflation of low-pressure balloon cuffs. The only survivors were two of three patients managed by esophageal diversion and reconstruction through extrathoracic incisions. The techniques, advantages, and disadvantages of esophageal diversion for giant tracheoesophageal fistula are presented.     

Surgical management of acquired non-malignant tracheo-esophageal fistulas

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the results of one-stage surgical management of acquired non-malignant tracheo-esophageal fistulas (TEF). METHODS: Six consecutive patients, 2 men and 4 women with median age of 65 (range 34-71) years had tracheo-esophageal fistulas resulting from a median of 33 (range 20-86) days of intubation via oro-tracheal or tracheostomy tubes. Median TEF length was 2.6 (range 1.8-3.5) cm and the defect was associated with a tracheal stenosis near or immediately below the stoma in 4 cases (66%). Tracheal resection and anastomosis with primary esophageal closure was carried out in 4 patients; direct closure of the tracheal and esophageal defects with muscle flap interposition was performed in 2 patients: tracheal stoma was left in site because of the high risk of postoperative respiratory insufficiency related to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. RESULTS: All six patients had complete control of the TEF. One perioperative death occurred on day 27 (16%) related to the recurrence of endocranial bleeding. The 5 long-term survivors were routinely submitted to tracheo-bronchoscopic control and only one (20%) revealed granulation tissue at the suture line requiring two consecutive bronchoscopic removals. CONCLUSIONS: Postintubation tracheoesophageal fistula is usually best treated with one-stage surgical procedure: which preferably consists of tracheal resection and anastomosis and primary esophageal closure.     

Tracheoplasty in a large tracheoesophageal fistula.

Postintubation tracheoesophageal fistulas (TEFs) are severe lesions that can be associated with tracheal stenosis and therapeutic difficulties. A case is reported of a woman with TEF and postintubation tracheal stenosis with 6.5 cm of affected trachea, and total esophageal exclusion. A tracheoplasty method is described patching the loss of the tracheal membranous wall with the posterior esophageal wall. In a final step, a self-expanded tracheal stent and esophagocolic bypass were added.     

Usefulness of Roux-Y type bypass operation using pedicled jejunum in unresectable esophageal cancer

Twelve patients underwent bypass operation for unresectable esophageal cancer in our department in recent 5 years were reviewed. A group of 8 patients who had Roux-Y type bypass operation using pedicled jejunum was compared with a group of 4 patients who had bypass operation using gastric roll. 1) The anastomotic leakage was found in one patients in each group of patients. 2) The operating time and amount of bleeding were significantly less in the patients being used the jejunal pedicle than in the patients being used the gastric roll. 3) No significant difference was found in the possibility of oral uptake and discharge from hospital and postoperative survival period between these two groups. The bypass operation for unresectable esophageal cancer is a riskful operation. But, we found that the Roux-Y type bypass operation using the pedicled jejumun was a safe and uninvasive procedure for a patient with high risk.     

Combined thoracic aortic or upper digestive tract resection for lung cancer and malignant mediastinal tumor

Objective: We studied possible indications and combined resection in patients with lung cancer and mediastinal tumors requiring combined thoracic aortic or upper digestive tract resection.Methods: Ten patients with lung cancer and malignant mediastinal tumors (9 men and 1 woman aged 39 to 72 years; mean: 60.5) underwent combined aortic or upper digestive tract resection.Results: Fiv — 3 with primary lung cancer, 1 with thymic cancer, and 1 with liposarcoma —, underwent combined aortic resection. In 2 each, lung cancer and malignant mediastinal tumor had infiltrated the thoracic aorta. The remaining case of lung cancer was complicated by aortic aneurysm in the distal arch. Cardiopulmonary bypass was conducted in 4, and selective cerebral perfusion in 2. Three patients are alive after 11, 22, and 61 months without disease recurrence. Those undergoing combined upper digestive tract resection all had lung cancer, with 4 having tumors infiltrating the esophagus or corpus ventriculi. The remaining patient had both lung and esophageal cancer. The patient treated with combined corpus ventriculi resection has survived 24 months and the patient treated with combined esophageal resection has survived 12 months without disease recurrence. The 1-year survival rate was 60%, 2-year 23%, and 3-year 23%. Prognosis was generally poor with the longest survival 13 months with N2 lung cancer.Conclusions: In combined resection due to malignant mediastinal tumor, T4N0-1 lung cancer, or diseases such as aortic aneurysm, prognosis can be expected to improve. Despite the often poor prognosis in T4N2 lung cancer, surgical intervention may be indicated to avoid complications due to tumor invasion and to lengthen survival and improve quality of life.     

Esophageal carcinoma following bariatric procedures.

BACKGROUND: The long-term success of bariatric operations for weight reduction has been well documented, but their potential effects on the risk of esophageal cancer have not been evaluated. METHODS: We performed operations on 3 patients for esophageal cancer following bariatric operations: 2 had Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, and 1 underwent vertical banded gastroplasty. All of these patients had adenocarcinoma at the gastroesophageal junction; 1 involved the entire intrathoracic esophagus. RESULTS: The intervals between the weight-loss operations and cancer diagnoses were 21, 16, and 14 years. All 3 patients had symptoms of reflux for many years before dysphagia developed and cancer was diagnosed. We performed a limited esophagogastrectomy, a classic Ivor-Lewis procedure, and a total esophagectomy with jejunal free-tissue transfer from stomach to cervical esophagus. Two patients had positive lymph nodes. One patient is alive at 6 years; 2 died at 13 and 15 months after undergoing operation for recurrent cancer. CONCLUSION: The effect of bariatric operations on gastroesophageal reflux is not known, although gastric bypass has been advocated as the "ultimate antireflux procedure." The presence of esophageal cancer in these 3 patients years after the weight loss operation is worrisome. We believe that patients who develop new symptoms should have endoscopic evaluation and that epidemiologic studies on the incidence of esophageal cancer occurring years after bariatric operation should be performed.     

Clinical experience with the silicone tracheal prosthesis

The superiority of using the patient's own tissue for tracheal reconstruction is acknowledged. When this is impossible an alternate method is mandatory. From 1970 to 1988, 62 patients with benign and malignant tracheal stenosis had airway continuity established with a silicone tube. A straight graft was used in 48 patients. Twenty-eight had strictures, two tracheoesophageal fistulas and strictures, five primary malacia, and 13 malignant tumors. In 20 with noncancerous tracheal obstruction the airway was resected and a graft interposed. Distal suture line granulomas developed in six of these patients. Two had subglottic granulomas. One had graft dehiscence after dissolution of absorbable suture material. This graft was replaced with a silicone T tube. Four patients with end-to-end anastomosis of the graft to the trachea died in 6 to 12 months. Six others were lost to follow-up. In 15 of the 48 with benign disease the stent was placed within the lumen. Six in this group died. Thirteen of the 48 patients had a malignant tumor. In six the tube was used for palliation; none are alive. Seven underwent resection; five are living 1 to 8 years after the operation, two died of their disease in 1 1/2 to 2 years, and two of the five living are undergoing irradiation for recurrent cancer. Fourteen individuals with tracheocarinal malignancy received a bifurcated graft. All six patients with a palliative intraluminal stent died. Among eight individuals, four died of disease in 1 to 4 years. Four are alive, but two have suture line granulomas and two are undergoing irradiation for residual carcinoma. Mediastinal infection, mucus encrustations of the intraluminal prosthesis, and impedence of pulmonary secretions across long tubular segments have not been manifest. These silicone tubes are well tolerated and function satisfactorily as an airway.