ABSTRACT

COVID-19 pneumonia is associated with severe respiratory failure that requires orotracheal intubation and assisted mechanical ventilation. Among the risks of prolonged mechanical ventilation, one of the most feared and challenging is the development of a tracheoesophageal fistula due to the respiratory and nutritional alterations that it entails. The diagnostic method of choice is bronchoscopy. Spontaneous closure of the tracheoesophageal fistula is rare and surgical management is generally required for its definitive correction. We present the case of a patient with COVID-19 pneumonia who developed a tracheoesophageal fistula and required surgical management as definitive treatment.

KEYWORDS

Tracheoesophageal fistula, COVID-19, surgery.

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