CONGENITAL BRONCHOESOPHAGEAL FISTULA IN THE ADULT

Congenital bronchoesophageal fistula is a rare clinical entity in adul t patients. This anomaly may cause various symptoms such as respirator y infections, coughing bouts when eating or drinking, and even hemopty sis. We present a report on 9 patients with bronchoesophageal fistulas who were treated in our hospital during the last 30 years. One patien t died of pulmonary complications before definitive treatment of the f istula. Other patients recovered from surgical closure of the fistula without complications. Based on our experience, these patients should be treated surgically without delay. Observation may result in fatal p ulmonary complications.