One-stage surgical management of an esophagopericardial fistula presenting with tamponade

Esophagopericardial fistula complicated by tension pyopericardium managed with a 3-incision esophagectomy

“…Most reports in the literature regarding esophagopericardial fistulization are within the setting of cardiac ablation procedures E1 or esophageal carcinomas, 3 , 4 with management including primary repair or, in severe cases, esophagectomy. E1 Esophagopericardial fistula secondary to endoscopic interventions are extremely rare.…”

“… 1 , 2 Much rarer is fistulization into the pericardium causing cardiac tamponade, a life-threatening event. 3 , 4 A single case of tension pericarditis after esophageal dilation has been reported in the literature in a patient who died, and the diagnosis was confirmed on postmortem examination. 1 We report the first case of EPF after stricture dilation resulting in tension pyopericardium that was successfully managed with an urgent, 3-incision esophagectomy.…”