Congenital bronchoesophageal fistula and tracheoesophageal fistula with esophageal atresia

Characteristics and Outcomes of Surgical Treatment for Bronchial Anomalies

OBJECTIVES

Bronchial anomalies are rare but challenging conditions to treat in children, encompassing a variety of structural abnormalities that could compromise airway patency. This includes complete rings, absent cartilage, traumatic avulsions, bronchoesophageal fistulas, and cartilaginous sleeves. The objective of this study is to describe the characteristics and outcomes of a series of pediatric cases of bronchial anomalies that were treated by slide tracheobronchoplasty.

METHODS

This is a single-institution retrospective case series of pediatric patients with bronchial anomalies who underwent surgical treatment between February 2004 and April 2020. Data extracted from electronic medical records included patient demographics, comorbidities, and surgical outcomes.

RESULTS

There were a total of 29 patients included in the study, of which 14 had complete bronchial rings, 8 had absent bronchial rings, 4 had traumatic bronchial avulsions, 2 had bronchoesophageal fistulas, and one had a cartilaginous sleeve. Median follow-up time was 13 months (with a range of 0.5-213 months). The overall mortality rate was 17.2% (5 patients), all of whom had complete bronchial rings. Patients with complete bronchial rings also had a higher rate of not only cardiac (85.7%) and pulmonary comorbidities (85.7%) but also secondary airway lesions (78.6%).

CONCLUSION

This is the largest series to date describing surgical treatment for bronchial anomalies. Complete bronchial rings were the most common anomaly treated, followed by absent rings and trauma. Surgical treatment can be successful but mortality rates are higher in patients with complete bronchial rings, possibly due to higher rates of pulmonary and cardiac comorbidities.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

4 Laryngoscope, 133:3334-3340, 2023.

An unusual cause of haemoptysis in childhood: A case report and literature review

Haemoptysis is uncommon in children and the diagnosis is challenging. We describe a 14-year-old child who presented with haemoptysis secondary to a suspected congenital broncho-oesophageal fistula. This is a rare condition and the symptoms are insidious, occasionally beginning in childhood but may present only in adulthood. The case report describes the presentation, diagnosis and management of broncho-oesophageal fistulas, with a review of the current literature.

Esophageal lung diagnosed following the primary repair of esophageal atresia with tracheo-esophageal fistula in a neonate

Communicating bronchopulmonary foregut malformations are a diverse group of congenital anomalies characterized by a fistula between the respiratory and alimentary systems. Among these malformations, the association of an esophageal lung with esophageal atresia (EA) and tracheo-esophageal fistula (TEF) is extremely rare. We report the case of a neonate with esophageal lung detected following the primary repair of EA with TEF. Despite the rarity of esophageal lung with EA and TEF, it should be considered to develop in infants with abnormal findings on chest radiographs and an unusual preoperative and/or in the postoperative clinical course of EA and TEF. Swallowing study with water-soluble contrast medium is the investigation of choice to demonstrate the anatomic connection, if EA and TEF were already primarily repaired. If not, although the use of preoperative CT may be debatable in neonates due to the associated radiation exposure, in selected cases such as our patient, preoperative CT can be useful for early preoperative diagnosis.

Congenital bronchopulmonary foregut malformation initially diagnosed as esophageal atresia type C: challenging diagnosis and treatment

Communicating bronchopulmonary foregut malformations are extremely rare congenital malformations, characterized by a communicating fistula between an isolated part of the respiratory system and the esophagus or the stomach. In this article, we present a case of esophageal atresia type C, later diagnosed as a rare form of a communicating bronchopulmonary foregut malformation, an esophageal atresia combined with right main bronchus originating from the lower esophagus. Therapeutic resection of the right lung was complicated by postpneumonectomy syndrome.

Thoracoscopic pneumonectomy for communicating bronchopulmonary foregut malformation in a 4-month-old child

Thoracoscopic total pneumonectomy has recently been described in the pediatric literature for the first time (Anselmo D, Perez I, Shaul D. Thoracoscopic Pneumonectomy for Severe Bronchiectasis in a 9-Year-Old Female. J Laparoendosc Adv Surg Tech 2008;18:775-777). In this article, we describe the use of thoracoscopic pneumonectomy in a 4-month-old boy with a complete (entire left lung) communicating bronchopulmonary foregut malformation. The patient is a 4-month-old boy who presented with persistent cough and low-grade fever. Chest radiograph was performed and showed a diffuse infiltrative pattern in the left lung. Computed tomography was then performed and revealed a poorly aerated abnormal left lung with absence of the left main stem bronchus. Subsequently, the patient underwent an upper gastrointestinal (UGI) series, which demonstrated that the left main stem bronchus arose from the distal esophagus and had no communication with the trachea. The patient tolerated a left thoracoscopic pneumonectomy very well. On postoperative day 5, a UGI demonstrated a question of a small contained leak. Therefore, a repeat study was performed 1 week later and did not demonstrate a leak. He was discharged in good health. Communicating bronchopulmonary foregut malformations are rare anomalies that require resection of the anomalous lung segment. This can be safely performed with a thoracoscopic technique even if it requires a pneumonectomy.

Double congenital bronchoesophageal fistulae in an adult

We report adult congenital bronchoesophageal fistula with both symptomatic fistula and asymptomatic one. A 56-year-old woman with a history of cough after drinking fluids was diagnosed as bronchoesophageal fistula by upper gastrointestinal series that showed a diverticulum in the middle portion of the esophagus with a fistula between the esophagus and right lower lung. Esophagoscopy revealed an orifice of the fistula located 27 cm from the incisors. Computed tomography showed chronic inflammatory change with bronchiectasis in the S6 segment of the right lung. The patient underwent video assisted thoracic surgery that identified two fistulae without missing a symptomatic one, and both were successfully resected. The fistulae were lined by squamous epithelium and smooth muscle without evidence of malignancy, infection or chronic inflammation that were histologically compatible with congenital fistulae.

[Utility of esophageal scintigraphy in congenital "H" type tracheoesofagea fistula]

We present the case of 15 day old female baby, with respiratory insufficiency, asphyxia and cyanosis when fed. She was diagnosed by ultrasound of intraauricular communication ostium secundum type. Passage of the contrast to the right respiratory tract but without localization of the fistula was observed in the esophagogastric contrast study. We performed esophageal scintigraphy that showed the passage of the isotope to both lungs, showing "H" type tracheoesophageal fistula. We review the bibliography on this special kind of disease.