[Jejunobronchial fistula as a complication after an alloplastic diaphragm substitute]

In a 60-year-old patient with an inflammatory pseudotumour due to a penetrating gastric ulcer, extended gastrectomy and partial diaphragm resection were carried out 7 years ago. The diaphragmatic defect was closed with a prosthetic patch (polytetrafluoroethylene, PTFE). The patient currently complains about cough during eating, fever and weight loss. By means of fluoroscopy after barium swallow, an enterobronchial fistula was detected. Intraoperatively, a 10-cm long, dead-end piece jejunum was found after end-to-side oesophagojejunostomy. The torn-out PTFE patch was seen in a subphrenic empyemic cavity, which communicated with the dead-end length of jejunum and the peripheral bronchi of the lower lobe via a fistula. After resection of the dead-end length of jejunum and extensive debridement of the residual parts of the diaphragm as well as oversewing of the bronchial fistula, the diaphragmatic defect was covered with a distally pedicled flap of the latissimus dorsi muscle. There were no postoperative complications.

In case of potential infections the implantation of alloplastic material must be excluded. The reversed latissimus dorsi muscle flap proved to be ideal autologous material for reconstruction of the hemidiaphragm. The dead-end length of jejunum in the end-to-side oesophagojejunostomy should be short to prevent any retention of food. Pulmonary resection is not absolutely necessary in the case of enterobronchial fistulation.