Benign esophago-pulmonary fistula complicating achalasia: case report and literature review

The achalasia, a common benign disease of esophagus, plays an important role in esophago-respiratory fistula, which has not yet been well recognized. In present study, a case is reported of a patient with benign esophago-pulmonary fistula secondary to a longstanding achalasia. To our knowledge, this is the fifth patient of English literature presenting benign esophago-pulmonary fistula associated with achalasia, we performed Heller’s myotomy as well as fundoplication through trans-abdominal route and colon replacement of the esophagus through retro-sternal procedure, but with the thoracic esophageal fistula as well as the right lung left being intact. The patient is going on well in the follow up.