[Surgical treatment of acquired, benign esophago-respiratory fistulas]

Acquired, benign esophago-respiratory fistula occurs as a rare complication of different disorders.

Over a period of 30 years, 37 patients with acquired, benign esophago-respiratory fistulas were treated at the authors' institutions. 35 of the 37 patients were operated upon. Acute operation involved primary repair of the trachea and esophagus, or intubation of the gullet and/or gastrostomy. Elective operations were performed on 13 patients.

Complications were observed in 14 patients. There were 4 cases with anastomotic leakage (all of them on the neck). Direct closure was carried out in 2 patients; the remaining 2 cases healed spontaneously. None of the 4 patients died. Seven of the 37 patients died (18.9%). This seems acceptable in view of the severity of the cases and the extension of the operations.

1. The causes of a majority of the esophago-respiratory fistulas in this material are connected with the complications of corrosive injury and peptic stricture of the esophagus. 2. The well-known fact that most of these fistulas occur in the right chest is confirmed. 3. Gastrostomy and/or intubation of the gullet seems to be the best solution for this lesion in the acute cases and in severely ill patients. 4. In elective cases, reconstruction is suggested, if possible in one step.