title: Attempted closure of a post-pneumonectomy oesophagopleural fistula with an Amplatzer atrial septal occluder.
abstract: Oesophagopleural fistula is a recognized complication of pneumonectomy. Surgical repair with direct closure and reinforcement with omentum, muscle or pleural flap is the mainstay of definitive treatment. However, this option might not be suitable for all patients. The authors report on the case of a 63-year old female refusing surgical repair of an oesophagopleural fistula after left pneumonectomy. A novel approach (using an Amplatzer atrial septal occluder device) for fistula closure was attempted. Despite a promising initial result, the procedure failed. This is the first report on the use of a septal occluder to try and close an oesophagopleural fistula.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Papworth Hospital, Cambridge, UK. kadlecjakub@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Jakub
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kadlec
authors.forename: Kenrick
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Turner
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Van Leuven
mesh_terms: D004937:Esophageal Fistula / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D004945:Esophagoscopy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010995:Pleural Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D011013:Pneumonectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D016156:Respiratory Tract Fistula / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D055989:Septal Occluder Device; D013906:Thoracoscopy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome