Left atrial-esophageal fistula (LAEF) is a rare complication of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) procedures undertaken for atrial fibrillation (AF). This complication is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Currently, there is no clear consensus on the appropriate management strategy. We report a case of a LAEF that developed in a patient 2 weeks after RFA for medication refractory...

Tracheal penetration of esophageal self-expanding metallic stents (SEMS) with/without tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF) formation is a rare occurrence. We report the case of a 66-year-old female patient with advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma who had undergone palliative esophageal stenting on three occasions for recurrent esophageal stent obstruction. On evaluation of symptoms of breath...

BACKGROUND Left atrial-esophageal fistula is a serious and poorly understood complication of catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation. The purpose of this study was to (1) develop a canine model of esophageal injury and left atrial-esophageal fistula after applications of forward-firing high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) and side-firing unfocused ultrasound (SFU); (2) examine the relation...

The authors report two patients with esophageal atresia and double fistula, one of whom was diagnosed intraoperatively and the other preoperatively through upper pouch contrast study. Patients with proximal and distal fistula do not present with excessive oral secretion and drooling because they can swallow the saliva/meals that reach the trachea from the proximal esophagus via the proximal fis...

Tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF) without associated esophageal atresia (EA) is a rare congenital anomaly. Diagnosis in neonatal period is usually not made and most of the patients are treated as cases of pneumonia. A case of H-type of tracheoesophageal fistula, diagnosed within 24 hours of delivery based upon choking and cyanosis on first trial of feed, is being reported. Diagnosis was confirmed...

In this report we describe a newborn with a rare case of Type II tracheal agenesis and bronchoesophageal fistula. Polyhydramnios and suspected esophageal atresia were identified during routine pre-natal ultrasound screening. Upon delivery, rigid bronchoscopy, esophagoscopy, and intraoperative fluoroscopy were performed, where both bronchi and the carina showed unusual horizontal orientation mak...

Currently, no guidelines have been established for the treatment of atrio-esophageal fistula (AEF) secondary to left atrial ablation therapy. After comprehensive literature review, we aim to make suggestions on the management of this complex complication and also present a case series. We performed a review of the existing literature on AEF in the setting of atrial ablation. Using keywords atri...

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE Evaluation of the feasibility of thoracoscopic correction of esophageal atresia with distal fistula. METHODS Eight consecutive neonates with esophageal atresia and distal fistula were treated thoracoscopically. Mean birth weight was 3,048 g (range, 2,140 to 3,770). The patients were intubated endotracheally and placed in a 3/4 left prone position. Three cannulae were insert...

Occurrence of bronchial artery aneurysm is rare, and it has been detected in less than 1 % of all selective bronchial arteriography cases. Here, we present a case of a bronchial artery aneurysm caused by a tracheal stent migration. A 59-year-old man was operated on for esophageal cancer, where an esophageal-tracheal fistula occurred 1 week after operation. Surgical repair of the esophageal-trac...

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS To investigate and treat the late complications of using nickel-titanium alloy stents in laryngotracheal, bronchial, and esophageal stenosis patients who developed severe laryngotracheal stenosis (SLS). STUDY DESIGN Retrospective clinical study. METHODS Thirteen patients with SLS or tracheoesophageal fistula secondary to insertion of a nickel-titanium alloy stent for t...