Tracheoesophageal Iatrogenic Fistulas in ICU: Still a Pandora’s Box?

Tracheoesophageal fistulas (TEF) in the ICU are still considered a relatively rare, but life-threatening complication of prolonged intubation, with an incidence of approximately 0.5% of cases [1]. Classically, their occurrence was considered the result of the direct interaction between two mechanical factors: the endotracheal tube (ETT) or the tracheostomy tube placement on the membranous wall of the trachea, and the esophageal feeding tube that affects esophageal mucosa, leading to ischemic lesions and decubitus injury. The question that arises is why, despite this simple explanation, the incidence of TEF remains low? In reality, the occurrence of TEF in ICU is related to the complex interactions between patients’ comorbidities and the particularities of pathophysiology and management in critically ill patients, leading to local tissue metabolic disorders and favoring fistulas’ occurrence. Malnutrition, diabetes, chronic anemia, reflux esophagitis, prolonged inflammation, sepsis, hemodynamic instability, prolonged hypoxemia, vasoactive drugs or corticosteroids are the mainly factors favoring fistulas’ development. [More]