title: Gastrobronchial fistula after toothbrush ingestion.
abstract: Gastrobronchial fistulous communications are uncommon complications of disease processes with only 36 previously reported cases. Described as complication of a number of conditions, such as previous gastroesophageal surgery, subphrenic abscess, and gastric ulcers (Jha P, Deiraniya A, Keeling-Robert C, et al. Gastrobronchial fistula--a recent series. Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Sur 2003;2:6-8), we report a case of fistulization caused by ingestion of a foreign body. A patient with mental retardation, admitted for the treatment of osteomyelitis, presented during hospitalization symptoms of high fever, vomiting, and respiratory distress. Endoscopy showed the presence of a gastrobronchial fistula, which developed after ingestion of a toothbrush. The toothbrush was extracted endoscopically, and the fistula was subsequently closed by surgery. The patient recovered completely. We report the first case of a gastrobronchial fistula as a complication of foreign body ingestion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, University Hospital Mannheim, University of Heidelberg 68167 Mannheim, Germany.
authors.forename: Jan Christoph
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Karcher
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: von Buch
authors.forename: Karl-Ludwig
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Waag
authors.forename: Konrad
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Reinshagen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001983:Bronchial Fistula / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D004724:Endoscopy; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D005747:Gastric Fistula / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D014099:Toothbrushing / Q000295:instrumentation*