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Vanstraelen S, Vos R, Dausy M, Van Slambrouck J, Vanluyten C, De Leyn P, Coosemans W, Decaluwé H, Van Veer H, Depypere L, Bisschops R, Demedts I, Casaer MP, Debaveye Y, De Vlieger G, Godinas L, Verleden G, Van Raemdonck D, Nafteux P, Ceulemans LJ. Diagnosis and Management of Esophageal Fistulas After Lung Transplantation: A Case Series. Transplant Direct 2024; 10:e1593. [PMID: 38414977 PMCID: PMC10898668 DOI: 10.1097/txd.0000000000001593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Revised: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Lung transplantations are highly complex procedures, often conducted in frail patients. Through the addition of immunosuppressants, healing can be compromised, primarily leading to the development of bronchopleural fistulas. Although esophageal fistulas (EFs) after lung transplantation remain rare, they are associated with significant morbidity. We aimed to investigate the clinical presentation, diagnostic approaches, and treatment strategies of EF after lung transplantation. Methods All patients who developed EF after lung transplantation at the University Hospitals Leuven between January 2019 and March 2022 were retrospectively reviewed and the clinical presentations, diagnostic approaches, and treatment strategies were summarized. Results Among 212 lung transplantation patients, 5 patients (2.4%) developed EF. Three patients were male and median age was 39 y (range, 34-63). Intraoperative circulatory support was required in 3 patients, with 2 needing continued support postoperatively. Bipolar energy devices were consistently used for mediastinal hemostasis. All EFs were right-sided. Median time to diagnosis was 28 d (range, 12-48) and 80% of EFs presented as recurrent respiratory infections or empyema. Diagnosis was made through computed tomography (n = 3) or esophagogastroscopy (n = 2). Surgical repair with muscle flap covering achieved an 80% success rate. All patients achieved complete resolution, with only 1 patient experiencing a fatal outcome during a complicated EF-related recovery. Conclusion Although EF after lung transplantation remains rare, vigilance is crucial, particularly in cases of right-sided intrathoracic infection. Moreover, caution must be exercised when applying thermal energy in the mediastinal area to prevent EF development and mitigate the risk of major morbidity. Timely diagnosis and surgical intervention can yield favorable outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stijn Vanstraelen
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Chronic Diseases and Metabolism, Laboratory of Respiratory Diseases and Thoracic Surgery (BREATHE), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Robin Vos
- Department of Chronic Diseases and Metabolism, Laboratory of Respiratory Diseases and Thoracic Surgery (BREATHE), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Respiratory Diseases, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Marie Dausy
- Department of Respiratory Diseases, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jan Van Slambrouck
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Chronic Diseases and Metabolism, Laboratory of Respiratory Diseases and Thoracic Surgery (BREATHE), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Cedric Vanluyten
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Chronic Diseases and Metabolism, Laboratory of Respiratory Diseases and Thoracic Surgery (BREATHE), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Paul De Leyn
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Chronic Diseases and Metabolism, Laboratory of Respiratory Diseases and Thoracic Surgery (BREATHE), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Willy Coosemans
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Chronic Diseases and Metabolism, Laboratory of Respiratory Diseases and Thoracic Surgery (BREATHE), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Herbert Decaluwé
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Chronic Diseases and Metabolism, Laboratory of Respiratory Diseases and Thoracic Surgery (BREATHE), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Hans Van Veer
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Chronic Diseases and Metabolism, Laboratory of Respiratory Diseases and Thoracic Surgery (BREATHE), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Lieven Depypere
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Chronic Diseases and Metabolism, Laboratory of Respiratory Diseases and Thoracic Surgery (BREATHE), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Raf Bisschops
- Department of Gastroenterology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Chronic Diseases and Metabolism, Laboratory of Translational research of gastrointestinal diseases (TARGID), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Ingrid Demedts
- Department of Gastroenterology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Chronic Diseases and Metabolism, Laboratory of Translational research of gastrointestinal diseases (TARGID), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Michael P. Casaer
- Department of Intensive Care, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Laboratory of Intensive Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Yves Debaveye
- Department of Intensive Care, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Laboratory of Intensive Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Greet De Vlieger
- Department of Intensive Care, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Laboratory of Intensive Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Laurent Godinas
- Department of Chronic Diseases and Metabolism, Laboratory of Respiratory Diseases and Thoracic Surgery (BREATHE), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Respiratory Diseases, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Geert Verleden
- Department of Chronic Diseases and Metabolism, Laboratory of Respiratory Diseases and Thoracic Surgery (BREATHE), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Respiratory Diseases, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Dirk Van Raemdonck
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Chronic Diseases and Metabolism, Laboratory of Respiratory Diseases and Thoracic Surgery (BREATHE), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Philippe Nafteux
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Chronic Diseases and Metabolism, Laboratory of Respiratory Diseases and Thoracic Surgery (BREATHE), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Laurens J. Ceulemans
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Chronic Diseases and Metabolism, Laboratory of Respiratory Diseases and Thoracic Surgery (BREATHE), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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