title: Diagnosis and surgical management of "H-type" tracheoesophageal fistula in infants and children.
abstract: By means of the new rod lens telescopic endoscopes, the diagnosis of H- or N-type tracheoesophageal fistula in infants and children can now be made definitively without the difficulties and complications previously described, and the numerous methods recommended in the literature, all of which have their inconsistensies, failures, errors, and dangers. Using these advanced endoscopes the fistula is demonstrated by bronchoscopy, a small Fogarty catheter is threaded through the opening in the trachea under direct view of the telescope and passed through the fistula into the esophagus. The balloon is inflated and the bronchoscope removed, leaving the catheter in place. A proper incision is then made in the neck or chest, depending on the location of the lesion, and the fistulous tract is quickly located by palpation of the balloon and catheter. Then with minimal and accurate dissection, correction is carried out.
mesh_terms: D020680:Bronchoscopes; D002404:Catheterization / Q000295:instrumentation; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008722:Methods; D014138:Tracheoesophageal Fistula / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*