[Congenital bronchoesophageal fistula--a case study (author's transl)]

This report deals with a patient with a congenital bronchoesophageal fistula, type "H", which was diagnosed only at age 43. This is an extremely rare defect and, if not recognized shortly after birth, it usually will stay unrecognized despite the fact that it causes recurrent pneumonias or localized bronchiectasis. The diagnosis of such a case is difficult and usually only possible with the help of a variety of diagnostic tests. The deciding factor is the recognition of the congenital defect. The subsequent surgical treatment including resection of the canal and closure of the fistula is a relatively simple operative procedure.