• Ramesh Rana, Rikesh Sapkota, Binesh Shakya, and Samir Gautam.
• Department of Internal Medicine, Gautam Buddha Community Heart Hospital, Butwal, Nepal.
• JNMA J Nepal Med Assoc. 2018 Nov 1; 56 (214): 980-982.

AbstractTracheoesophageal fistula is an abnormal communication between trachea and esophagus. Benign acquired types are rare with the incidence of less than 1%. Prolonged endotracheal intubation remains the most common cause. We are reporting a 28 years old female patient presented with chief complaint of a cough after each meal intake in the outpatient clinic. She had a recent history of admission in the intensive care unit with prolonged intubation (11 days). Her general physical examination, laboratory examination, and chest x-ray were normal. Esophagogastroscopy was performed and revealed communication between upper esophagus and trachea approximately at 14-17cm embedded in longitudinal mucosal folds of the esophagus. She was referred to the higher center for surgical repair. Though, a rare complication, high suspicion is necessary to accurately diagnose the disease in a patient with the history of prolonged intubation. Keywords: case report; endotracheal intubation; mechanical ventilation; tracheoesophageal fistula.

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