Tracheoesophageal  fistula is an abnormal communication between trachea and esophagus ¹. Acquired  tracheosophageal fistula are a rare complication of mechanical ventilation occurring in 0.5% of intubated patient after 30 days of intubation ² .Prolonged endotracheal intubation remain most common cause¹. The incidence decreased after the use of low pressure and high volume endotracheal cuffs, but the intensive care units continue to provide such cases. We reported a case of tracheoesophageal fistula after prolonged intubation. Though, rare complication , high suspicion is necessary to accurately diagnose the disease in patient with history of prolonged intubation.

1. Ramesh R, Rikesh S, Binesh S, Samir G. Prolonged intubation induced Tracheoesophageal fistula in suspected meningococcal sepsis with ARDS : A Case report. J Nepal Med Assoc 2018;56 (214):980-2.
2. Andrea T, Kostas S, Nakechand P ,Ronald E, Simmy B. Acquired tracheoesophageal fistula after prolonged mechanical ventilation. Clinical Intensive care 2006; 17(1/2):51-54.
3. Paraschiv M . Tracheoesophageal fistula – a complication of prolonged tracheal intubation. J Med Life .2014;7(4):516.

Dr Kamini  Randhawa

Junior Resident, Department of Anaesthesiology, IGMC Shimla, India