Successful repair of the esophagus in type-IV laryngo-tracheo-esophageal cleft using interposed jejunum

Abstract

The authors present a female patient of type-IV laryngo-tracheo-esophageal cleft (LTEC) who survived the definitive operation and was discharged from the hospital. Separation of the trachea and the esophagus was very difficult because they formed almost cylindrical common channel and multiple fistulae occurred after the operation. After multiple attempts of closure of the fistulae, one fistula near the carina remained, and the esophagus was reconstructed using interposed jejunum leaving some part of the esophagus connected to the fistula. Now she is practicing oral feeding. This is the fourth long-term survivor of type-IV LTEC in the international literature.