Sudden intractable respiratory failure in extremely low birth weight infants with H-type tracheoesophageal fistula.
A fatality from a tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF) in two extremely low birth weight infants is presented. The sudden onset of intractable respiratory failure accompanied by the absence of chest movement and breathing sounds was observed. The typical clinical symptoms were concealed because the infants required mechanical ventilation and nasogastric feedings. When ventilated infants with these symptoms are suspected of the diagnosis of TEF, prompt reintubation under the guidance of a flexible bronchoscopy may be life saving because the endotracheal tube passes through the fistulas into the esophagus with ease.
Hosono
Shigeharu
S
Division of Neonatology, Saitama Children's Medical Center, Saitama, Japan. hosonos@med.nihon-u.ac.jp
Fuyama
Yuichi
Y
Ohno
Tsutomu
T
Kishimoto
Hiroshi
H
Ogawa
Yoshihiro
Y
D000328:Adult; D004750:Enteral Nutrition; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007441:Intubation, Gastrointestinal; D008297:Male; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000209:etiology*; D014138:Tracheoesophageal Fistula / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology