Acquired tracheoesophageal fistula in a pregnant patient with COVID-19 pneumonia on prolonged invasive ventilation.
BMJ Case Rep
; 14(8)2021 Aug 20.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1367415
ABSTRACT
A previously healthy pregnant woman was diagnosed with COVID-19 pneumonia and was subsequently intubated. Throughout the course of her illness, the patient was treated for recurrent bouts of pneumonia. A high-resolution chest and neck CT scan confirmed the presence of a tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF), which may have been caused by the presence of the overinflated endotracheal cuff, prolonged steroid use, hypoxic injury and possible direct injury of the tracheal mucosa from COVID-19 itself. A temporising procedure, involving tracheostomy with an extended-length tracheal tube, was performed. Unfortunately, the patient succumbed to infection prior to definitive repair. This case highlights the importance of keeping a high index of suspicion for tracheal injury in patients who experience prolonged periods of intubation. It also underlies the high morbidity and mortality rate associated with TEF, although being a rare disease.
Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Tracheoesophageal Fistula
/
Noninvasive Ventilation
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Case report
/
Prognostic study
Limits:
Female
/
Humans
/
Pregnancy
Language:
English
Year:
2021
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Bcr-2021-244016
Similar
MEDLINE
...
LILACS
LIS