Aerodigestive Fistulas in Adults at the University Hospital of Strasbourg

Acquired aerodigestive fistulas in adults are rare conditions, corresponding to a pathological communication between the digestive and respiratory tracts, requiring collaborative multidisciplinary management. Clinical manifestations are nonspecific, ranging from a simple cough to pulmonary sepsis, which can be life-threatening. Diagnosis is often multimodal, requiring radiological examinations and endoscopic investigations. The most frequent etiologies are divided into two groups: benign and malignant causes, each group representing 50% of all acquired aerodigestive fistulas. Among the benign etiologies, 75% are iatrogenic, mainly represented by complications related to orotracheal intubation. These fistulas of benign etiology most often have a favorable prognosis, amenable to surgical treatment. Conversely, the development of an aerodigestive fistula in the context of thoracic cancer ma