Introduction: Recalcitrant esophagocutaneous fistula is a very uncommon complication after neck surgery. Management of this non-healing fistula has long been a topic of debate. This report provides an approach for treating it.
Presentation of case: A 65-year-old woman presented nineteen years after branchial cleft cyst surgery with cyst recurrence associated with swelling. Sonography displayed a collection in the front of the left carotid artery in the suprasternal notch. On the CT, a similar finding was seen, a collection with gaseous density in front of the left sternocleidomastoid and a hypodense nodule on the right lobe of the thyroid. The pathology report describes an abscess with many macrophages and neutrophils, fat necrosis, microcalcification, and foreign body reaction around amorphous bodies. Again, surgical resection of the swelling area and tract was done and an esophago-cutaneous fistula was developed after surgery which did not heal after 6 months.
Clinical discussion: According to accelerating the healing time and complete closure of chronic wounds such as lower-extremity diabetic ulcers, persistent pneumothorax, anal fistula, and recalcitrant gastrocutaneous fistula by using platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and fibrin glue (FG); PRP-FG can be considered as a safe and effective treatment option for chronic wound healing. So, for treatment of this fistula, PRP-FG was used. PRP-FG was obtained from the patient's blood and injected into the fistula tract. The discharge was stopped after one week and the fistula was cured.
Conclusion: PRP-FG injection into the fistula tract provides a simple and non-invasive approach for the treatment of recalcitrant esophagocutaneous fistula.
Keywords: Esophago-cutaneous fistula; Fibrin glue; Platelet-rich-plasma; Recalcitrant wound; Wound care.
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