Abstract

VARGAS NARANJO, Sócrates; NEVES, Ana; MOURA RODRIGUES, Tiago  and  MATEUS, Ana. Beyond a Community-Acquired Pneumonia: Tracheoesophageal Fistula. Gaz Med [online]. 2023, vol.10, n.3, pp.221-224.  Epub Sep 30, 2023. ISSN 2183-8135.  https://doi.org/10.29315/gm.v1i1.447.

Tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF) is uncommon in adults, and it is mostly associated with cancer, trauma and iatrogenic processes. Because there is a communication between the oesophagus and the bronchial tree, TEF is a risk factor for pulmonary infectious, owing to facilitating aspirations from digestive system, as well as, by passage of food. Thus, there is “failure” of the mechanical defending barrier of the respiratory system to prevent pulmonary infection disease.

In this context, we present a case of an elderly man who was admitted to the Emergency Service with dyspnoea, fever, productive cough and weight loss, whom primary diagnosis was pneumonia and after a further study it was associated with a TEF by achalasia.

Keywords : Esophageal Achalasia; Klebsiella Infections; Tracheoesophageal Fistula/diagnosis; Tracheoesophageal Fistula/etiology.

        · abstract in Portuguese     · text in Portuguese     · Portuguese ( pdf )