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SUMMARY Benign esophagorespiratory fistula is a relatively rare condition in adults that poses a technical challenge to manage. This case series describes our experience in the treatment of benign esophagorespiratory fistula in 12 adults. A retrospective review of case records of 12 patients with benign esophagorespiratory fistula was done. There were eight tracheoesophageal fistulae and four bronchoesophageal fistulae. Among them, four fistulae were congenital, one was secondary to corrosive injury, three were due to foreign body (dentures), one was secondary to erosion because of prolonged endotracheal intubation, one was secondary to penetrating trauma, and two were infective in etiology. Of the 12 patients, there were nine males and three females. The mean age of presentation was 30.16 years (range 15–53 years). Nine patients had a definitive surgical intervention. The esophageal end of the fistula was managed by primary closure of the esophageal defect and reinforcement with pleural or intercostal muscle flap or a subtotal esophagectomy. The respiratory end of the fistula was dealt with by primary closure of the defect or by a novel technique of neomembranous airway formation, whereby the tracheal defect was closed with the help of a vascularized patch of the esophageal wall. The technique of this neomembranous airway formation is described in detail, and to our knowledge, this is the first time that this technique is being reported in the English literature. This technique is a novel method for definitive repair and can be considered as an option for repair of esophagorespiratory fistula with large defects.

Background Adult esophago-respiratory fistula is a rare condition, which is usually seen in malignancies or in benign conditions following trauma, infection or as a delayed presentation of congenitall tracheoesophageal fistula. They pose a technical challenge in stabilisation and management requiring multidisciplinary approach. Methods In this retrospective analysis of such cases over a period of ten years, who presented to our centre. The aetiology, presentation and treatment modalities were studied in detail. Of these,18 patients with benign esophago repiratory fistulae underwent surgical correction oft he same. This is discussed in detail. Results There were a total of 62 cases of adult esophago-respiratory fistula, over the 10 year period. Of the patients, 34 of the cases to be of malignant etiology and 28 of the cases to be of benign etiology such as prolonged tracheostomy, corrosive injury, infection, trauma or delayed presentation of congenital fistula. The mean age of presentation was 44 years. (range 18 to 81 years of age). There were 35 tracheoesophageal fistulae and 27 bronchoesophageal fistulae. Fourteen patients underwent esophageal stenting and 9 underwent tracheal stenting either as a temporary intervention to alleviate symptoms or as palliative intervention. Eighteen patients underwent definitive surgical intervention. Surgical repair involved approach through neck in 6 patients and thorax in 11 patients and a combination of both approaches in one patient. The esophageal end of the fistula was primarily closed or closed with the help of a pleural or pedicled muscle flap or a subtotal esophagectomy was performed. The respiratory end of the fistula was either primarily closed or with the help of a vascularized patch of the esophageal wall. The latter technique was used in four patients and is explained in detail. Conclusion Due to risk of fatal complications, early diagnosis, multidisciplinary approach and appropriate surgical intervention after nutritional build up is the key to successful management of adult esophago-respiratory fistula. Disclosure All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Oesophageal duplication cyst (ODC) is a rare congenital anomaly of the foregut. The reports of ODCs presenting in adulthood is relatively rare. Surgical excision is the ideal treatment. Traditionally, the excision is performed via a thoracotomy with its resultant morbidity. Minimally invasive surgical (MIS) approaches are feasible and can potentially reduce the postoperative discomfort and reduce the hospital stay. We aimed to study the feasibility and safety of MIS for ODC in adults. A retrospective review of all adult patients with ODCs treated in an oesophago-gastric surgery unit, between January 2015 and March 2022, was performed. All patients received MIS. The demographic, clinico-radiological, and operative details and outcomes were analysed. Nine patients (Female 7; mean age, 36.2 ± 4.4 years) were included. Chest pain was the commonest symptom (44.0%). Oesophago-gastroscopy showed normal mucosa in all patients. Endoscopic-ultrasound was performed in all except one; no cysts had atypical features. The cysts were frequently located in the distal thoracic oesophagus (78%) and the median (range) cyst size was 6.3(3.9–13.5) cm. All patients received MIS (Thoracoscopy,8; Thoraco-laparoscopic, 1); no conversion to open surgery. The techniques resection techniques were enucleation (5), stapler-assisted resection (3) or partial excision (1). The 30-day morbidity was 22.2% (Staple line leakthoracoscopic repair, 1; pleural collectionimage-guided drainage, 1). The median (range) hospital stay was 7(3–25) days and there was no mortality. MIS is feasible and safe for the management of adult ODCs and should be offered to patients, irrespective of the timing of its presentation or the location and size of the cyst.