Congenital bronchoesophageal fistula associated with esophageal diverticulum in the adult

ABSTRACT

Congenital bronchoesophageal fistula is a rare clinical entity in adults. This anomaly may cause various symptoms such as respiratory infections, coughing bouts when eating or drinking, and even hemoptysis. The fistula can cause symptoms in childhood but may not appear until adulthood. We recently experienced a case of congenital bronchoesophageal fistula associated with esophageal diverticulum in an adult. A 63-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital due to chest discomfort, sore throat and coughing bouts when eating. An empyema with lung abscess had occurred eight years previously. Results of the physical examination were unremarkable. A Barium swallowing revealed a medium-sized diverticulum at the right anterior aspect of the esophagus, which had developed a fistulous connection with the right lower lobe bronchus. The patient was treated by fistulectomy and lobectomy of the right lower lobe. The postoperative course was smooth and uneventful.