Repair of adult benign tracheoesophageal fistulae with absorbable patches: single-center experience.

Background. This group previously reported on the repair of a wide tracheoesophageal fistula with a bioabsorbable patch. The current study describes a consecutive series of patients operated on using the same technique. Methods. Data of patients undergoing surgical closure of tracheoesophageal fistula at a single center from 2011 to 2018 were extracted and analyzed. Results. An absorbable patch was used in 8 of 23 patients (34.8%) operated on for tracheoesophageal fistula during the study period. Causes of the fistulae included postintubation injury (n = 6), mediastinal radiotherapy (n = 1), and a complication of lung resection (n = 1). The median fistula size was 27.5 mm (range, 15 to 45 mm). In 3 patients, the surgical approach was through cervicotomy and in 5 it was through right thoracotomy. Prosthetic materials consisted of Gore Bio-A (W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc, Newark, DE) tissue reinforcement in 6 patients and polyglactin 910 knitted mesh in 2 patients. In every case, the prosthesis was covered with a pedicled muscle flap. The esophageal defect was treated by primary closure in 7 patients and by esophageal exclusion in 1. Fistula recurrence and postoperative death occurred in 1 patient (12.5%), whereas 7 patients experienced postoperative complications (87.5%). Five patients resumed oral intake, and 3 breathed without a tracheal appliance. Compared with the other patients, in those who underwent repair of their fistula using a prosthesis, the median size of the airway defect was larger, morbidity was greater, and the rate of resumption of oral intake was lower. Conclusions. Repair of tracheoesophageal fistulae with synthetic prostheses is feasible and may be effective in complex cases. Further research is needed to identify the ideal prosthetic material. (C) 2020 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons