A case report of a gastrobronchial fistula and lung abscess caused by leakage from the staple line of a gastric tube after esophagectomy for esophageal cancer

Background Gastrobronchial fistulas are rare, but life-threatening, complications of esophagectomy. They are caused by anastomotic leakage and mainly occur around anastomotic sites. In the present paper, we report a rare case of leakage from the staple line of a gastric tube after esophagectomy for esophageal cancer, which was successfully treated using an intercostal muscle flap and lung resection. Case presentation A 61-year-old male underwent subtotal esophagectomy with regional lymphadenectomy for esophageal cancer. The sutures along the staple line of the gastric tube failed 11 days after surgery, and a pulmonary abscess was also found on imaging. The abscess did not heal after conservative treatment; therefore, right lower lobectomy, gastrobronchial fistula resection, primary closure, and patching of the leaking portion of the gastric tube with an intercostal muscle flap were performed 9 months after the first operation. The patient’s postoperative course was uneventful, and he was discharged on the 354th day. Conclusions We experienced a case involving a gastrobronchial fistula caused by leakage from the staple line of a gastric tube and successfully treated it by performing right lower lobectomy and patching the leak with an intercostal muscle flap.

Gastrobronchial Fistula: A Rare Complication of Postlaparascopic Sleeve Gastrectomy—A Case Report and Literature Review

Introduction. Obesity is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in countries all over the world, and its prevalence has been increasing dramatically in recent years. Bariatric surgery is considered the gold standard of care for patients who failed conservative management. Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) is of increasing popularity. One of its vicious consequences is the development of acquired fistula between the stomach and the tracheobronchial tract due to intractable gastric leak. Case Report. We are presenting a case of a 25-year-old man who underwent laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy for morbid obesity, which was complicated with the development of gastrobronchial fistula, despite an unremarkable postoperative course. Conclusion. Acquired gastrobronchial fistula due to bariatric surgery is not reported widely in radiologic literature; hence, there is lack of consensus of the diagnostic modality of choice. However, there is a myriad of tests available for diagnosing gastrobronchial fistula, with contrast study of the upper gastrointestinal tract which is the widely accepted diagnostic test.