Abstract
A man of 48 was admitted to hospital because of chronic bronchitis and difficulty in swallowing. X-ray films of the esophagus showed contrast material in the trachea but no fistula. During esophagoscopy and bronchoscopy a small opening was found on the front wall of the esophagus 22 cm from the upper incisors and 4 cm above the carina. Thoracotomy was performed with resection of the fistula. No sign of malignancy was found. According to etiology tracheoesophageal fistulas can be divided into 3 groups: 1. those caused by malignant diseases or specific infectious diseases of the esophagus; 2. those caused by trauma, and 3. congenital fistulas. In the reported case the fistula was probably congenital since no sign of malignancy was found and since the patient’s chronic bronchitis stopped entirely after the operation.