Iatrogenic oesophageal fistulas after neck region surgery

Introduction: Iatrogenic esophageal fistulas after neck surgery are a rarely discussed topic in the Polish literature. Due to the scarcity of publications on esophageal fistulas, esophageal perforation after neck surgery, the topic of this paper was undertaken. For this purpose, the literature was reviewed and a description of two cases was presented, comparing the diagnostic and therapeutic difficulties encountered to the world literature. Case reports: In the cases presented, esophageal fistula formation occurred after operations in the neck. In the first case, the esophageal fistula was a complication after resection of Zenker’s diverticulum and in the second case, the fistula developed after removal of the thyroid gland. Esophageal fistulas in the described patients proved to be a major therapeutic challenge. Despite a number of repair procedures undertaken by surgeons, laryngologists and thoracic surgeons in both patients, full therapeutic success was not achieved. In the present study, the authors related the management modalities of the presented patients to the experience of other centers. Methods of treating esophageal fistulas, possible complications and ways of treating these complications are discussed.