[Fiberoptic laryngoscopic assisted diagnosis and operation of congenital and recurrent tracheoesophageal fistula]

ABSTRACT

Fiberoptic laryngoscopy [FOL] is usually used in the management of difficult airway intubations. Since its introduction, it has been used for few other indications. In this paper we present a new indication of fiberoptic bronchoscopy [FB] to detect the exact location of tracheoesphageal fistula [TEF] intraoperatively in fourteen cases of pediatric group patients to prevent an unnecessary traumatic manipulation during operation. In all of these cases [12 esophageal atresia and TEF and 1 recurrent TEF and 1 pure TEF] we were able to detect the exact location of TEF with using a LF type Fiberoptic laryngoscope which was been passed through the endotracheal tube. The TEF could then be found and repaired perfectly with minimal dissection and trauma to the trachea and esophagus through thoracotomy [Except 1 case that did not need thoracotomy] Postoperative course was uneventful and all of the patients were discharged in good condition. We believe that intraoperative fiberoptic bronchoscopy in these types of operations not only leads to shortening the operation time, but it can also prevent unnecessary trauma to vital thoracic organs