Tracheoesophageal fistula in a COVID-19 patient

Cristiana Pereira; Rafael Silva; Glória C Campello; Fernando Moura

doi:10.4103/sja.sja_294_21

Tracheoesophageal fistula in a COVID-19 patient

Saudi J Anaesth. 2021 Oct-Dec;15(4):447-449. doi: 10.4103/sja.sja_294_21. Epub 2021 Sep 2.

Authors

Cristiana Pereira¹, Rafael Silva², Glória C Campello², Fernando Moura¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Anesthesiology, Centro Hospitalar do Tâmega e Sousa, Penafiel, Portugal.
² Department of Intensive Care, Centro Hospitalar do Tâmega e Sousa, Penafiel, Portugal.

Abstract

The number of patients requiring admission in intensive care units and prolonged invasive mechanical ventilation (MV) has increased significantly during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF) following prolonged invasive MV is a rare condition. Numerous COVID-19 pathophysiological mechanisms and treatment-related effects might support the increase of tracheal complications in this subgroup of patients. We report a case of TEF in a COVID-19 patient submitted to prolonged invasive MV and discuss its diagnosis and management.

Keywords: COVID-19; mechanical ventilation; tracheoesophageal fistula..

Publication types

Case Reports