Clinical diagnosis and treatment of tracheobronchial fistula: current situation and future perspectives

Abstract

Tracheobronchial fistula refers to a pathophysiological condition in which the trachea or bronchi forms abnormal connections with the adjacent cavities or organs such as pleural cavity, esophagus and stomach. It is also a challenging management condition. Tracheobronchial fistula can be caused by surgical and non-surgical issues. or can also be caused by tumor or non-tumor isuues. The most commonly characteristic clinical manifestations are "swallowing, drinking and eating related choking"; High-resolutionchest CT (HRCT), respiratory and digestive endoscopy and other auxiliary examinations are helpful to make a definite diagnosis. Clinical management includes the treatment of acute complications, fistula occlusion, and supportive treatment. In recent years, with the rapid development of endoscopic interventional techniques, most non-tumor tracheobronchial fistulas can be managed with minimally invasive procedures. In the future, the emerging 3D printing technology, tissue engineering, regenerative medicine and other technologies, will bring new hope to the treatment of tracheobronchial fistula.