Acquired benign trachea-oesophageal fistula is a rare benign pathological entity with varying aetiologies that most often occurs post-intubation. This case report presents the case of a female patient, 31 years old, admitted to the emergency room with sepsis syndrome following bilateral aspiration pneumonia caused by a large trachea-oesophageal fistula. The fistula was the result of intra-tracheal migration of an oesophageal stent placed for post lye ingestion stenosis. Esophageal diversion and partial resection with oesophageal patch to repair the tracheal defect, under general anaesthesia with ventilation using rigid bronchoscopy and high frequency jet ventilation (HFJV), followed at a later date by esophageal replacement with colic graft were the procedures performed with a view to curing the patient. In conclusion, complex cases always require a tailored approach. It is important to note that HFJV may be applied for a longer period of time and the oesophagus can be used as patch for the posterior tracheal wall in selected cases. Staged surgery is also an option when the patients' poor health status does not permit major surgery.
We present the case of a male patient, 34 years old, non-smoker, presenting repeatedly in the past 2 years in emergency and cardiology departments for episodes of palpitation accompanied by faitness. One of the electrocardiograms recorded in emergency department captures bigeminated ventricular premature heartbeats. A cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination in May 2019 showed increased thickness of left ventricle during systole and contrast enhancement in the middle of cardiac wall at the base of the heart, considered initially as hypertrophic non-obstructive cardiomyopathy. The reinterpretation of MRI suggested that the changes were typical for cardiac sarcoidosis. Investigations performed later showed increased angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE); thoracic computed tomography (CT) scan showed nodules and micronodules bilateral in upper lobes with moderate mediastinal lymph node enlargement and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) showed lymphocytic alveolitis with normal CD4/CD8 ratio, normal lung function with normal diffusing capacity. Even without biopsy, but based on CT scan, BAL and ACE, the patient was diagnosed as sarcoidosis with lung and cardiac involvement and was started on oral corticosteroids (methylprednisolone 32 mg/day). The diagnosis of cardiac involvement as initial presentation of sarcoidosis is difficult, due to limited knowledge about the disease among cardiologists and radiologists. Though, a recurrent arrhythmia, potentially severe, in a young patient in the absence of an alternative cause, should raise the suspicion for sarcoidosis with cardiac involvement, with a potential severe outcome in the absence of treatment.
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