Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-tf8b9 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-30T23:59:45.495Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Adult presentation of a tracheoesophageal fistula with co-existing laryngeal cleft

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 June 2007

J. L. Lancaster*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Whiston Hospital, Prescot, Merseyside, UK.
Z. Hanafi
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Whiston Hospital, Prescot, Merseyside, UK.
S. R. Jackson
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Whiston Hospital, Prescot, Merseyside, UK.
*
Address for correspondence: Mr J. L. Lancaster, F.R.C.S., 23 Holbrook Close, Stock Meadows Est., Grt. Sankey, Warrington, Cheshire WA5 3SE.

Abstract

Congenital posterior laryngeal clefts are rare anomalies, being first described by Richter in 1792, and first operated upon successfully by Pettersson in 1955. Most clefts present within the first few months of life, with only a few cases being documented as presenting in adulthood. We present the case of a 50-year-old lady presenting with a previously undiagnosed posterior laryngeal cleft with an associated tracheoesophageal fistula. The defect was graded as 2 on the Benjamin and Inglis classification system of posterior laryngeal clefts. Following a literature review, we believe that our patient is the oldest to present with this congenital defect.

Type
Clinical Records
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 1999

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Armitage, E. N. (1984) Laryngotracheoesophageal cleft. Anaesthesia 39: 706713.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Benjamin, B., Inglis, A. (1989) Minor congenital laryngeal clefts: Diagnosis and classification. Annals of Otology, Rhinology and Laryngology 98: 411420.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Blitzer, A., Krepsi, Y.-P., Oppenheimer, R. W. (1988) Surgical management of aspiration. Otolaryngologic Clinics of North America 21: 743750.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Cannon, C. R., McLean, W. C. (1982) Laryngectomy for chronic aspiration. American Journal of Otolaryngology 3: 145151.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Dalton, C, Howard, D. (1998) Near-total laryngectomy in the management of aspiration. C.M.E. Bulletin Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery 2: 2021.Google Scholar
Evans, J. N. G. (1985) Management of the cleft larynx and tracheoesophageal clefts. Annals of Otology, Rhinology and Laryngology 94: 627630.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Evans, K. L., Courteney-Harris, R., Bailey, M., Evans, J. N. G., Parsons, D. S. (1995) Management of the posterior laryngeal and laryngotracheoesophageal clefts. Archives of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery 121: 13801385.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lim, T. A., Spanier, S. J., Kohut, R. I. (1979) Laryngeal clefts. A histo-pathologic study and review. Annals of Otology Rhinology and Laryngology 88: 837845.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lindeman, R. C. (1975) Diverting the paralysed larynx: A reversible procedure for intractable aspiration. Laryngoscope 85: 157180.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mcllwain, J. C, Bryce, D. P., Gilbert, R., Grace, A. (1991) Subglottic laryngeal closure for aspiration. Clinical Otolaryngology 16: 3338.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Miller, F. R., Eliachar, I. (1994) Managing the aspirating patient. American Journal of Otolaryngology 15: 117.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Montgomery, W. W., Smith, S. A. (1976) Congenital laryngeal defects in the adult. Annals of Otology 85: 491497.Google ScholarPubMed
Pearson, B. W. (1994) Near total laryngectomy. In Reconstruction in Head and Neck Cancer. 1st Edition. (Soutar, D. S., Tiwari, R. eds.). Churchill Livingstone pp 187197.Google Scholar
Pettersson, G. (1955) Inhibited separation of the larynx and the upper part of the trachea from the oesophagus in a newborn: report of a case successfully operated upon. Acta Chirurgie Scandinivi 10: 250255.Google Scholar
Phelan, P. D., Stocks, J. G., Williams, H. E., Danks, D. M. (1973) Familial occurrence of congenital laryngeal clefts. Archives of Diseases in Children 48: 275278.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Richter, C. F. (1792) Dissertatio medico de infanticido in artis obstetriciae [thesis]. Leipzig, East Germany.Google Scholar
Tyler, D. C. (1985) Laryngeal cleft: Report of eight patients and a review of literature. American Journal of Medical Genetics 21: 6175.CrossRefGoogle Scholar