Six Cases of Non-malignant Esophago-bronchial Fistulae

In our hospital, we have seen six cases with non-malignant esophago-bronchial fistulae. There were four men and two women ranging in ages from 42 to 72. Five of them had a past history of pneumonia. The chief complaints in five of the cases were coughing and fever.All of them were diagnosed under esophagography. Broncho-fiberscopy was ineffective for diagnosing this disorder. All cases were surgically treated without-operative mortality.In four cases, fistulectomy was carried out. In the remaining two, the division of fistulae were performed. In one case, the fistula was communicated to the left main bronchus, while in the remaining cases they were communicated to the right lower lobe.By clinical course and pathological examination, four of them were diagnosed as congenital, and the remaining ones were found to be acquired. The post-operative courses were uneventful except for in one case, which seemed to have been acquired, and this case suffered from respiratory distress for three weeks.In the treatment of esophago-bronchial fistula, surgical treatment must be selected as soon as possible.