Open AccessDisturbed Anastomotic Healing after Esophagectomy: A Novel Treatment of a Benign Tracheo-Neo-Esophageal Fistula
Author(s) -
C Buskens,
Frits van Coevorden,
H. Obertop,
J. Jan B. van Lanschot
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
digestive surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.762
H-Index - 69
eISSN - 1421-9983
pISSN - 0253-4886
DOI - 10.1159/000052017
Subject(s) - medicine , fistula , esophagectomy , anastomosis , surgery , esophagus , resection , esophageal cancer , cancer
In this report a 65-year-old man is presented who developed a benign tracheo-neo-esophageal fistula 1 month after esophageal resection due to confined leakage of the cervical anastomosis. After unsuccessful conservative treatment, the fistula was partly excised via a cervical approach and a T-drain was inserted in the esophagus, thus creating a new fistula to the skin. Over a period of 8 weeks, the long mediastinal fistula track obliterated, and after removal of the T-drain the (neo-)esophagocutaneous fistula closed rapidly.