title: [Esophagotracheal fistula of the cervico-thoracic area--problem solution using a combined trans-cervical and transthoracic approach].
abstract: Closure of oesophagotracheal fistulae in the cervicothoracic region using a cervical approach often fails. We report a patient with carcinoma of the larynx who underwent pharyngolaryngectomy, postoperative radiotherapy and several operations for reconstruction of the hypopharynx and cervical oesophagus elsewhere. Finally we were asked to close an oesophagotracheal fistula in the cervicothoracic region. We were successful using a pectoralis major muscle flap via a combined transcervical-transthoracal approach. This interdisciplinary procedure seems to be the method of choice in difficult cases of achieving safe closure of fistulae in this region.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für HNO-Krankheiten, Städtisches Klinikum Fulda.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Draf
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Weber
authors.forename: H E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Zeplin
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D007825:Laryngectomy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010611:Pharyngectomy; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000601:surgery*; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000379:methods*; D013908:Thoracotomy; D014138:Tracheoesophageal Fistula / Q000601:surgery*; D014139:Tracheostomy
vernacular_title: Osophagotracheale Fistel im zervikothorakalen Ubergang--die Problemlösung mittels eines kombinierten transzervikalen-transthorakalen Zuganges.