Supraclavicular artery island flap for postoperative esophageal defect reconstruction in a tubular esophageal duplication adult: A case report

Abstract

Background Adult esophageal duplication is a congenital anomaly which is rarely seen in clinical settings. Adult tubular esophageal duplication has only been reported in very few cases. Case presentation A patient presented with odynophagia and dysphagia, gastroscopy and X-ray contrast imaging showed formation of a fistula in the upper esophagus connecting to a sinus tract traveling along the esophagus. An open surgery was conducted after the initial infection management, the esophageal tubular duplication was resected and the defect was reconstructed by supraclavicular artery island flap. Post-operative recovery was uneventful and patient’s odynophagia and dysphagia were relieved. Conclusions Esophageal duplication can be effectively detected by lipiodolography and gastroscopy. The current treatment of choice is surgical excision, and the supraclavicular artery island flap (SAI) flap is a technique of great potential in post-operative esophageal defect reconstruction.