title: Bronchocutaneous fistula after chest-tube placement: A rare complication of tube thoracostomy.
abstract: Bronchocutaneous fistula is a pathologic communication between the bronchus, pleural space, and subcutaneous tissue. It can occur as a complication of positive pressure ventilation and pneumonectomy. Diagnosis is made by imaging studies. Treatment options are endoscopic repair, parietal pleurectomy, and pleurodesis. Our patient is a 53-year-old woman who had a difficult chest-tube placement for complicated parapneumonic effusion. Computed tomography scan revealed a fistulous tract from the bronchus to the skin at the site of the original chest tube, and chest x-ray film revealed a subcutaneous fistulous air tract in the lateral chest. It is usually an acquired condition; congenital bronchocutaneous fistula is rare. We report a case of bronchocutaneous fistula after chest-tube placement.
authors: Sinai-Grace Hospital, Wayne-State University, Detroit, MI, USA.
authors: Sinoj K
authors: SK
authors: John
authors: Sony
authors: S
authors: Jacob
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: Piskorowski
mesh_terms: D001983:Bronchial Fistula / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D015505:Chest Tubes / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017577:Cutaneous Fistula / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000601:surgery; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D013907:Thoracostomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013908:Thoracotomy; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed