title: Repair of post-intubation tracheoesophageal fistulae through the left pre-sternocleidomastoid approach: a recent case series of 13 patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Post-intubation tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF) is a late complication of tracheotomy, while membranous trachea laceration during percutaneous dilational tracheostomy is implicated in the generation of early post-tracheotomy TEF. Surgical repair is the only viable option for these patients and the technique of repair depends on a variety of factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Totally 13 patients (mean age: 54.1±12.6 years; male: 8) with post-intubation TEF were managed between 2007 and 2013. The diagnosis was always made through esophagoscopy followed by endoscopic gastrostomy and bronchoscopy for repositioning of the tracheal tube just above the carina. Repair of the fistula was made in all patients through a left pre-sternocleidomastoid incision followed by dissection of the fistulous tract, suturing of esophagus and trachea and interposition of the whole pedicled left sternocleidomastoid muscle (SCMM) between the two suture lines.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five out of the 13 procedures were performed in mechanically ventilated patients; 3 of them died from septic complications during the postoperative period while fistula recurred in 1 of those 3 patients due to extensive inflammation of the tracheal wall. The rest 8 patients underwent fistula repair after weaning from mechanical ventilation and the results of repair were excellent. The additional procedure of temporary T-tube insertion was obviated in one patient to manage extensive tracheomalacia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The left pre-sternocleidomastoid incision is an excellent access for the repair of a post-intubation TEF without tracheal resection. The interposition of the whole left pedicled SCMM between the suture lines of trachea and esophagus avoids fistula recurrence and offers the best chance for cure.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, AHEPA University Hospital, 2 Pulmonary-Oncology, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Christophoros N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Foroulis
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, AHEPA University Hospital, 2 Pulmonary-Oncology, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Chryssoula
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nana
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, AHEPA University Hospital, 2 Pulmonary-Oncology, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Athanassios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kleontas
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, AHEPA University Hospital, 2 Pulmonary-Oncology, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tagarakis
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, AHEPA University Hospital, 2 Pulmonary-Oncology, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Georgios T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Karapanagiotidis
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, AHEPA University Hospital, 2 Pulmonary-Oncology, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zarogoulidis
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, AHEPA University Hospital, 2 Pulmonary-Oncology, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Paschalis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tossios
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, AHEPA University Hospital, 2 Pulmonary-Oncology, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Kyriakos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Anastasiadis
keywords: Tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF); complications of tracheotomy; dilational tracheotomy; post-intubation tracheo-esophageal fistula; pre-sternocleidomastoid approach; tracheotomy