Benign broncho-esophageal fistula in adult- Two case reports

Broncho-esophageal fistula (BEF) in adult is commonly due to malignancy. Benign BEF is rare. The common causes are mediastinal inflamation, due to tuberculosis, histoplasmosis, etc. This, can present with chronic cough, asthma or pulmonary sepsis. The symptoms are not as pronounced as in tracheo-esophageal fistula. Barium swallow helps to confirm the diagnosis. Esophagoscopy and bronchoscopy are routine to exclude any associated pathologies and also to evaluate the distal esophagus for any obstruction. Excision of the tract with closure of both ends and soft tissue interposition is curative. In both the cases there was no evidence of mediastinal inflamation like periesophageal adhesions or fibrosis or lymphadenopathy. Both the patients were treated surgically with good results.