Endoscopic treatment of congenital H-Type and recurrent tracheoesophageal fistula with electrocautery and histoacryl glue.
OBJECTIVE
Congenital H-Type tracheoesophageal fistulae (H-Type TEF) and recurrent fistulae after primary repair of esophageal atresia represent a difficult problem in diagnosis and management. The treatment traditionally involved an open technique via a cervical or thoracic route, approaches with high morbidity and mortality rates of up to 50%. Endoscopic closure of fistulae has been reported with various techniques such as tissue adhesives, electrocautery, sclerosants and laser. However, the published case series contain a small number of patients with usually short-term follow-up. The aim of this paper is to present the experience of a decade at Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children, using diathermy and histoacryl tissue adhesive and discuss the indications and limitations of this technique.


METHODS
Since 1995, 192 patients have been managed in this institution with tracheoesophageal fistulae of which 10 patients have been treated endoscopically. The fistulae were both of H-Type and recurrent tracheoesophageal fistulae following surgery for esophageal atresia and fistula division. One fistula occurred following trauma. The procedure was undertaken under general anesthesia in the image guided therapy suite under fluoroscopic control. Flexible ball electrocautery and injection of histoacryl glue were used either on their own or in combination.


RESULTS
Fistula closure was achieved in 9 out of 10 fistulae. Four patients had a second endoscopic procedure. No major respiratory or other complications were encountered in association with the procedure. Follow-up has been between 3 months and 9 years.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude, endoscopic treatment of tracheoesophageal fistulae with electrocautery and histoacryl glue has been a safe and successful technique of managing H-Type and recurrent tracheoesophageal fistulae. In this paper, we discuss the indications and the surgical steps of the procedure. We highlight that diathermy should be carefully controlled and applied preferably in the small non-patulous fistulae. A fistula that has not closed after two endoscopic attempts is not suitable for further endoscopic treatment and therefore an external approach should be recommended.
Tzifa
K T
KT
Department of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, The Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Avenue, Toronto, Ont., Canada M5G 1X8. CTZIFA@aol.com
Maxwell
E L
EL
Chait
P
P
James
A L
AL
Forte
V
V
Ein
S H
SH
Friedburg
J
J
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004564:Electrocoagulation; D004659:Enbucrilate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004945:Esophagoscopy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007828:Laryngoscopy; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D014014:Tissue Adhesives / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014138:Tracheoesophageal Fistula / Q000151:congenital / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D014014:Tissue Adhesives; D004659:Enbucrilate