Congenital and acquired esophagobronchial fistula

We report a case of a patient with repeated intractable pneumonia due to congenital and acquired esophagobronchial fistula that was relieved by surgery. The patient was a 69-year-old female, who had repeatedly developed pneumonic symptoms since December 2000. It was found that she had a fistula from an esophageal diverticulum into the right bronchus and was diagnosed with congenital esophagobronchial fistula (Braimbridge classification type I). The patient was not relieved with conservative treatment and the diverticulum and fistula were subsequently excised. Considering the complications, lobectomy was not performed. In postoperative esophagraphy, a second fistula was found at a different site that was then removed during a second surgery. This fistula operation was formed a posteriori based on the conditions around the fistula. We had difficulty with the diagnosis and treatment. However, the patient had a good outcome With surgical treatment. A review of the relevant literature is also presented.