Brief Article
Copyright ©2011 Baishideng Publishing Group Co.
World J Gastroenterol. Mar 14, 2011; 17(10): 1358-1361
Published online Mar 14, 2011. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v17.i10.1358
Table 1 Clinical features, diagnosis, and treatment of congenital bronchoesophageal fistula
SymptomsPatients (n)DiagnosisPatients (n)TreatmentPatients (n)
Cough (nonspecific)10Esophagography9Right thoracotomy7
Cough (after drinking)6Esophagoscopy1Left thoracotomy4
Hemoptysis6Bronchoscopy1Resection of fistula10
Chest pain3Division and suture1
Low fever4Pleural flap insertion11
Associated lobectomy10
Associated pneumonectomy1
Table 2 Anatomic types of congenital bronchoesophageal fistulae
Anatomic typesPatients (n)
Lower third of esophagus9
Main bronchus1
Intermediate bronchus1
Segmental bronchus7
Middle third of esophagus2
Main bronchus1
Segmental bronchus1
Table 3 Blood loss during operation, hospital stay time, and outcome of patients with congenital bronchoesophageal fistula
Blood loss(mL)Patients(n)Hospitalstay timePatients(n)Postoperative complicationPatients(n)
200-4003 ≤ 2 wk8Bronchial fistula1
400-80062 wk-1 mo2Esophageal fistula0
800-10002>1 mo1Respiratory failure1
Circulation failure0
Table 4 Braimbridge and Keith‘s classification of bronchoesophageal fistula
TypeICongenital bronchoesophageal fistula associated with congenital oesophageal diverticulum
Type IISimple bronchoesophageal fistula
Type IIIBronchoesophageal fistula with an intralobar cyst
Type IVBronchoesophageal fistula communicating with a pulmonary sequestration