Tracheo-colonic fistula: an exceptional complication after total replacement of an esophagus injured by acid.

ABSTRACT

A 49-year-old woman underwent emergency gastrectomy for suicidal caustic ingestion, followed later by transhiatal esophagectomy and left colonic interposition. A fistula developed postoperatively between the trachea and interposed segment of colon. This exceptional complication was successfully treated by resection of the fistula, closure of the colonic defect and tracheal myoplasty using the sterno-cleidomastoid muscle.