Biomaterial Database

Esophagopleural fistula after pneumonectomy for inflammatory disease. 1985

D M Shama, and J A Odell

The development of an esophagopleural fistula after pneumonectomy is one of the less common complications of pneumonectomy. Herein reported are seven cases over a period of 14 years, five from a series of 896 pneumonectomies performed for malignant or inflammatory disease in the Department of Thoracic Surgery and two referred after pneumonectomy elsewhere. The fistula was demonstrated by the escape of radiographic contrast material, methylene blue, or food particles into the pleural space or was observed at esophagoscopy. In all, the associated empyema was first treated by drainage, and surgical repair of the fistula was attempted in only three cases. In six cases the fistula had closed before the patient left hospital. In the seventh, the patient insisted on leaving the hospital while under treatment and before closure had occurred. One patient died of cor pulmonale 2 years after closure of the fistula. There has been no recurrence of the fistula in any of the patients observed. Conservative management is at variance with that of many authors.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D010995	Pleural Diseases	Diseases involving the PLEURA.	Disease, Pleural,Diseases, Pleural,Pleural Disease
D011013	Pneumonectomy	The excision of lung tissue including partial or total lung lobectomy.	Bronchoscopic Lung Volume Reduction,Endoscopic Lung Volume Reduction,Lung Volume Reduction,Lung Volume Reduction Surgery,Partial Pneumonectomy,Partial Pneumonectomies,Pneumonectomies,Pneumonectomy, Partial,Reduction, Lung Volume,Volume Reduction, Lung
D011014	Pneumonia	Infection of the lung often accompanied by inflammation.	Experimental Lung Inflammation,Lobar Pneumonia,Lung Inflammation,Pneumonia, Lobar,Pneumonitis,Pulmonary Inflammation,Experimental Lung Inflammations,Inflammation, Experimental Lung,Inflammation, Lung,Inflammation, Pulmonary,Inflammations, Lung,Inflammations, Pulmonary,Lobar Pneumonias,Lung Inflammation, Experimental,Lung Inflammations,Lung Inflammations, Experimental,Pneumonias,Pneumonias, Lobar,Pneumonitides,Pulmonary Inflammations
D002648	Child	A person 6 to 12 years of age. An individual 2 to 5 years old is CHILD, PRESCHOOL.	Children
D004322	Drainage	The removal of fluids or discharges from the body, such as from a wound, sore, or cavity.
D004653	Empyema	Presence of pus in a hollow organ or body cavity.
D004937	Esophageal Fistula	Abnormal passage communicating with the ESOPHAGUS. The most common type is TRACHEOESOPHAGEAL FISTULA between the esophagus and the TRACHEA.	Esophageal Fistulas,Fistula, Esophageal,Fistulas, Esophageal
D005260	Female		Females