title: Benign esophagobronchial fistula with and without esophageal obstruction: two ends of the surgical spectrum.
abstract: Acquired esophagobronchial fistula (EBF) is uncommon and its surgical remediation is challenging. Management depends on the cause, degree of pulmonary involvement, and existence of esophageal obstruction. We report management of two EBF cases representing extremes of the surgical spectrum. One patient with EBF secondary to mediastinal fungal infection underwent pulmonary resection and esophageal repair. Another, who was positive for human immunodeficiency virus, required esophageal resection and fistula closure, but no pulmonary resection. Successful outcome was achieved in both patients.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, California 90509, USA. timothy.vannatta@gmail.com
authors.forename: Timothy L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Van Natta
authors.forename: Kalpaj R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Parekh
authors.forename: Caitlin G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Reed
authors.forename: Saad A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Shebrain
authors.forename: Bassam O
authors.initials: BO
authors.lastname: Omari
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001983:Bronchial Fistula / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D001999:Bronchoscopy / Q000379:methods; D002637:Chest Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D004937:Esophageal Fistula / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D004940:Esophageal Stenosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D004945:Esophagoscopy / Q000379:methods; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013908:Thoracotomy / Q000379:methods; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome