Tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF) is a relatively rare congenital anomaly. Surgical intervention is required to establish esophageal continuity and prevent aspiration and overdistension of the stomach. Since the first successful report of thoracoscopic TEF repair in 2000, the minimally invasive approach has become increasingly utilized. The main advantages of the thoracoscopic technique include a...

Tip-enhanced Raman scattering (TERS) and optically excited tip-enhanced fluorescence (TEF) of a self-assembled porphyrin monolayer on Ag(111) are studied using an ultrahigh vacuum scanning tunneling microscope (UHV-STM). Through selectively exciting different Q-bands of meso-tetrakis- (3,5-ditertiarybutylphenyl)-porphyrin (H2TBPP), chemical information regarding different vibronic excited state...

H-type tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF) is extremely rare in infants and children, and clinical manifestations of this condition are diverse based on its severity. Some cases of congenital TEF diagnosed in adulthood have been reported, which indicate the difficulty of early diagnosis of this disease. Gastroesophageal reflux (GER) may induce chronic aspiration, pulmonary aspiration, apparent life...

lenalidomide. The results of this trial indicate that CLL patients who have initially received lenalidomide can have enhanced clinical responses with the addition of rituximab (Chanan-Khan, verbal communication, July 2008). Until there is a clear dissection of the exact mechanisms of rituximab-mediated clearances of CLL B cells, it would seem premature to alter current strategies. However, this...

BACKGROUND Esophageal atresia (EA) is the most frequent and severe congenital anomaly of the esophagus, occurring in 1:2500-1:4500 live births. Five types of EA have been described, EA with tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF) being the most frequent. AIM The aim of this paper is to evaluate epidemiological aspects, malformative associations, and prenatal diagnosis in an unusual case series of EA ...

The low average grain yield (0.7 ton ha(-1)) of tef in Ethiopia is mainly attributed to low soil fertility, and inappropriate tillage and weeds control practices. Despite this, limited scientific information has been documented so far on their interaction effects on tef crop productivity in northern Ethiopia. The objective of this study was to assess the separate and interaction effects of till...

BACKGROUND Airway obstruction or tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF) near the tracheal carina requires placement of Y-shaped stents. Herein, we describe our multicenter experience with the placement of Dumon silicone Y-stents. We also conduct a systematic review for studies describing the deployment of airway silicone Y-stents. METHODS This was a retrospective analysis of consecutive subjects who...

Tracheoesophageal fistulas (TEF) present a perioperative management challenge. A 62 year-old man with esophageal carcinoma presented with a large tracheoesophageal fistula extending most of the trachea. Previously, the patient had two overlapping esophageal and one tracheal stent placed, but he developed progressive tracheal disruption due to esophageal stent perforation near the level of the c...

Persistent air leak is not a common problem in patients who are under mechanical ventilation support; however, it can be encountered in intensive care unit (ICU). It is often due to nonuniform contact between the cuff and the tracheal wall caused by insufficient cuff pressure or malposition of the tube. Tracheostomy is commonly applied and is a relatively safe invasive procedure in ICU. We repo...

BACKGROUND Esophageal atresia (EA), tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF), or both is a complicated problem. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the outcomes and postoperative complications in patients with EA/TEF who were admitted to our hospital. METHODS In total, 15 patients were enrolled from 1994 to 2003, including 8 males and 7 females. Patient demographics, associated anomalies, and ou...