Pancreaticopleural fistula causing pleural effusion: a case report and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Pancreaticopleural fistula is a rare complication of pancreatitis and poses diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. This case report sheds light on the unique challenges posed by pancreaticopleural fistula as a rare complication of pancreatitis. The aim is to contribute valuable insights to the scientific literature by presenting a case involving a middle-aged man with acute necrotizing pancreatitis and associated pleural effusion. CASE PRESENTATION: A 41-year-old Asian male with a history of pancreatitis and chronic alcohol use presented with severe dyspnea, chest pain, and left-sided pleural effusion. Elevated serum amylase lipase levels and imaging confirmed acute necrotizing pancreatitis with a computed tomography severity index of 8/10. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography revealed pancreatic necrosis and pseudocyst formation and findings suggestive of pancreaticopleural fistula. The patient was then treated with octreotide therapy. CONCLUSION: The management of pancreaticopleural fistula demands a comprehensive and individualized approach. Recognition guided by high clinical suspicion coupled with appropriate investigations and a careful balance between medical, endoscopic, and surgical interventions is crucial for achieving favorable outcomes. This case report adds to the scientific literature by providing insights into the complexities of pancreaticopleural fistula and emphasizing the importance of personalized strategies in its management.

A rare case of lung abscess due to esophageo-pulmonary fistula in asymptomatic carcinoma of esophagus.

Acquired esophago-respiratory fistulae are usually esophago-tracheal or esophago-bronchial. Esophago-pulmonary fistulae are rare. Most patients present with cardinal symptoms of esophageal carcinoma or esophago-pulmonary fistula leading to early diagnosis. We report a 56-year-old female with an unusual presentation. She presented with high grade fever with chills and rigor, cough with mucopurulent expectoration and shortness of breath for 15 days without dysphagia, nausea, vomiting or chest pain. Clinically and radiologically a diagnosis of lung abscess was entertained and she was treated with multiple antibiotics without any improvement. Contrast Enhanced Computed Tomography (CECT) chest revealed esophageal malignancy with esophageal-pulmonary fistula communicating with abscess cavity. Patient responded to palliation with self-expandable esophageal stent and drainage of abscess. Although rare, asymptomatic malignant esophageal disease should be considered in the differential diagnosis of lung abscess, which does not follow a usual course. Keywords: Lung abscess, Esophageal cancer, Esophageo-pulmonary fistula, Self expandable metallic stent.

Evaluation of Endovascular Intervention for Tracheo-Innominate Artery Fistula: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: While the standard of care for suspected tracheo-innominate artery fistula (TIF) necessitates sternotomy, perioperative mortality remains high. Endovascular interventions have been attempted, but reports have been anecdotal. The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the outcomes of endovascular management of TIF by pooling the existing evidence. METHODS: An electronic database search of Ovid MEDLINE, Scopus, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, and Cochrane Controlled Trials Register was performed to identify all studies examining endovascular treatment of TIF. Patients greater than 14 years of age who underwent endovascular intervention for TIF were included. 25 studies consisting of 27 patients met the inclusion criteria. RESULTS: 48.1% (13/27) of patients were male and median age was 39.0 [IQR 16.0, 47.5] years. Tracheostomy was present in 96.3% (26/27) of cases. Median duration from tracheostomy to TIF presentation was 2.2 months [0.5, 42.5]. On presentation, 84.6% (22/26) had tracheal hemorrhage, and 22.8% (6/27) were hemodynamically unstable. 96.3% (26/27) underwent covered stent graft placement while 1 patient (3.8%) had coil embolization. 18.5% (5/27) of patients required repeat endovascular intervention for recurrent bleeding, while 11.1% (3/27) required rescue sternotomy. Median hospital length of stay was 30 days [16.0, 46.5], and overall mortality was 29.6% (8/27) with a median follow-up time of 5 months [1.2, 11.5]. CONCLUSION: While uncommon, endovascular treatment of TIF may be a feasible alternative to sternotomy. The approach may be useful in those who are unable to undergo surgery or are likely to have adhesions from prior chest operations.

Incidentally Diagnosed Esophago-Pulmonary Fistula on 18F-FDG PET/CT in a Case of Carcinoma Esophagus: A Life-Threatening Emergency.

ABSTRACT: Esophago-pulmonary fistulas are very less reported in literature. 18F-FDG PET/CT scan is routinely used for evaluation of patients of carcinoma esophagus. We present a case of carcinoma esophagus with acquired esophago-pulmonary fistula diagnosed on 18F-FDG PET/CT scan.

Endoscopic management of pancreaticopleural fistula in a pediatric patient: A case report and literature review.

INTRODUCTION: Pancreaticopleural fistula (PPF) is a rare but serious complication of pancreatic disorders. As the clinical presentations of PPF are often deceptive, it can cause a delay in the timely diagnosis and proper treatment. PPF is extremely uncommon in pediatric patients, and diagnostic and management strategies for PPF among pediatric patients are scanty. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 12-year-old girl presented with cough and dyspnea owing to massive right-side pleural effusion confirmed by Chest X-ray. Biochemical examination of pleural effusion revealed a significant elevation of amylase level. Imaging modalities showed dilated pancreatic duct and fistulous tract connecting pancreatic duct and right thorax. DIAGNOSIS: Chronic pancreatitis with PPF was diagnosed. INTERVENTIONS: Medical therapy was initially attempted for 2 weeks. Endoscopic therapy with naso-pancreatic drainage tube placement was then performed without any complications after failed medical therapy. OUTCOMES: The patient has remained healthy and symptom-free during 2 years of follow-up. CONCLUSION: When pediatric patients presented with recurrent pleural effusion with unknown etiology, PPF should be taken into consideration. Pleural effusion amylase level is the most important laboratory test and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography is recommended to visualize the fistula. Optimal management of PPF should be based on pancreatic duct morphology.

The treatment of congenital pyriform sinus fistula: a single-center experience.

PURPOSE: Congenital pyriform sinus fistula (CPSF) often presents diagnosis and treatment challenges. This study aimed to explore the treatment principles and to evaluate the effectiveness of the hypothermia plasma cauterization with suspension laryngoscopy for CPSF. METHODS: The medical records of 56 patients with CPSF from January 2000 to December 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: Of the 56 cases, the lesions were predominantly located on the left side (95%), and the accuracy of the first diagnosis was 30%. Ultrasound showed an abnormal rate of 86%, while CT or MRI displayed an abnormal anatomic lesion of 92%. The 3D visual reconstruction enabled the analysis of morphological characteristics of CPSF. The positive predictive value of barium esophagography was 89%, whereas the positive rate of the internal opening in CPSF under local anesthesia laryngoscopy was 33%. Nine cases of sinus type underwent open resection, and the recurrence rate was 33%. Interestingly, ten patients with sinus type underwent hypothermia plasma cauterization with suspension laryngoscopy, leading to a success rate of 100% without apparent complications. CONCLUSIONS: Hypothermia plasma cauterization with suspension laryngoscopy alongside 3D imaging is both minimally invasive and repeatable with neglectable complications, which has the potential to serve as the first-line treatment for CPSF in the future.

Successful Rescue of a Ruptured Tracheoinnominate Fistula with Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation, Endovascular Stents, and Debranching Surgical Bypass.

We reported a case of ruptured tracheoinnominate fistula in a 14-year-old boy with history of repeated sternotomy. Tracheostomy was performed at age 2 years. Slide tracheoplasty was done at age 13 years. He presented to outpatient clinic with episodic hemosputum. Massive blood emanated from stoma during bronchoscopy evaluation. Venous-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation was installed for resuscitation. A contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) and angiography confirmed the diagnosis. Immediate control of bleeding was achieved by an endovascular stent graft deployed at innominate artery. Massive hemorrhage recurred on day 7. An aortic arch stent was inserted and all arch vessels debranching via supraclavicular collar excision was performed. A covered stent was used to fenestrate the aortic stent and establish antegrade blood flow to all neck vessels via left common carotid artery. The patient remained stable at 10-month follow-up. Combination of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, endovascular intervention, and surgical bypass could be effective in treating critical patients.

Endovascular Treatment of Tracheoinnominate Artery Fistula: Case Report and Literature Review With Pooled Cohort Analysis.

To pool data from published cases of tracheoinnominate artery fistula (TIF) treated with surgical or endovascular techniques along with reporting a case of similar presentation. A total of 261 cases in 137 published case reports and case series were identified through a comprehensive systematic literature review. Data regarding patient characteristics, treatment, and follow-up were extracted. A local case of a 14-year-old boy with TIF due to longstanding tracheostomy treated with stent-graft placement was added to the data. Comparison of the complication rates between surgical vs endovascular interventions was done with the chi-square test. Factors associated with longer survival were assessed by the Cox regression analysis. Thirty-three (12.6%) of the reported cases were treated endovascularly, 137 (52.3%) were treated surgically, and 92 (35.1%) were reported with no definitive treatment. Mean age was 34 ± 22 years, and 61% were males. The mean time interval between tracheotomy placement and bleeding was 1 ± 2.5 years. A lower procedure-related complication (30% vs 50%, P = 0.045) and 30-day mortality (9% vs 23%, P = 0.008) rates had been reported with percutaneous approaches compared to surgery. No percutaneous procedure was reported prior to year 2000. In multivariate analysis stratified by publication year, a shorter tracheostomy-to-bleeding time (year) was significantly associated with higher hazards of death (hazard ratio: 1.22, P = 0.017). Type of intervention (percutaneous vs surgery) was not associated with postintervention survival (adjusted hazard ratio: 0.78, P = 0.558). Endovascular stent grafting can have a comparable postprocedural survival and lower complication rates vs open surgical repair in treatment of TIF.

Single application of airway stents in thoracogastric-airway fistula: results and prognostic factors for its healing.

BACKGROUND: Thoracogastric-airway fistula (TGAF) post-thoracic surgery is a rare and challenging complication for esophagectomy. The aim of this study was to explore the effectiveness of airway stenting for TGAF patients and find related factors coupled with healing of fistula. METHODS: This is a retrospective study involving patients with TGAF who were treated with airway stentings. Based on different TGAF locations and sizes on chest computed tomography, covered metallic or silicon airway stents were implanted to cover orifices under interventional bronchoscopy. TGAF healing was defined as the primary outcome, and complete sealing of TGAF as the second outcome. The predictors for TGAF healing were analyzed in univariate and multivariate analysis. RESULTS: A total of 58 TGAF patients were included, of whom 7 received straight covered metallic stents, 5 straight silicon stents, 3 L-shaped covered metallic stents, 21 large Y-shaped covered metallic stents, 17 large Y-shaped silicon stents, and 5 with Y-shaped covered metallic stents. Healing was achieved in 20 (34.5%) patients, and complete sealing in 45 (77.6%) patients. There were no significant differences in healing rate and complete sealing rate between patients receiving metallic stents and those with silicon stents. In univariate analysis, lacking a previous history of radiotherapy or chemotherapy, nonmalignant fistulas, small fistulas, and shorter postesophagectomy duration were found associated with a higher rate of TGAF healing. Only shorter postesophagectomy duration was associated with TGAF healing in multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Both silicon and covered metallic airway stenting are effective methods to close TGAF. A shorter postesophagectomy period may predict better TGAF healing. The reviews of this paper are available via the supplemental material section.

Cerebrospinal Fluid Fistula in the Frontal Sinus Secondary to Obstructive Hydrocephalus.

In some rare cases, long-standing hydrocephalus can cause "high-pressure" cerebrospinal fluid fistulas. We report the case of a young overweight woman with rhinorrhea secondary to hydrocephalus with a fistula into the frontal sinus. Brain imaging studies revealed aqueduct stenosis. Ventriculocisternostomy treated the hydrocephalus but did not cure the rhinorrhea, and additional multilayer surgical skull base repair was necessary. In these cases, the CSF leakage acts as a safety valve, and closure will worsen the patient's condition if the causative lesion has not been treated first. Moreover, identifying the exact location of the fistula can be challenging and will usually require high-resolution bone computed tomography.

Repair of Isolated Innominate Artery Pathology with a Modified Endovascular Graft.

Innominate artery pathology is traditionally treated with open surgical repair and is associated with significant morbidity. No dedicated endovascular solution exists for this anatomic location. We report a series of 3 cases of successful management of innominate artery injuries using an off-label, modified Zenith ESLE stent graft (Cook Medical, Bloomington, IN). Two patients presented with pseudoaneurysms after attempted central venous catheterization, and 1 patient developed a tracheo-innominate fistula. Access was obtained in a retrograde fashion via the right common carotid artery in 2 cases, and via the right axillary artery in the other. Additional anatomic considerations included a prior sternotomy in 2 cases and a bovine arch in 2 cases. Due to the emergent nature of the cases, no cerebral protection maneuvers were taken. The ESLE limbs are of uniform diameter with 3 Z-stent wireforms and measure 55 mm in length. Removal of the distal stent reduces the length to 38 mm. Fourteen- to 18-mm diameter grafts were used. All 3 cases resulted in technical success with complete exclusion of the defect. There were no new neurologic deficits and all patients recovered uneventfully. This approach represents an effective off-label solution for what frequently presents as an emergent problem. In 2 cases, it obviated the need for a complicated redo sternotomy and facilitated endovascular repair in a vessel for which there was no indicated off-the-shelf conduit. Modification of existing devices successfully addressed the need for a nontapered graft of short length and moderate vessel diameter and allowed for minimally invasive treatment of anatomically complex pathology.