Aerodigestive Fistulas in Adults: Management at the Strasbourg University Hospital Between 2014 and 2023

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 marks a turning point in the evolution of the oncological disease. Indeed, the average life expectancy of patients with a malignant fistula is estimated at between 1 and 6 weeks without specific treatment. Following this palliative approach aimed at improving quality of life, multiple treatment options are available, often combined with digestive and thoracic endoscopy.

The Strasbourg University Hospitals are a leading tertiary care center for these pathologies, with departments of Pulmonology, Gastroenterology, Digestive Surgery, Thoracic Surgery, Medical Intensive Care, Multipurpose Surgical Intensive Care, Bronchial Endoscopy, and Digestive Endoscopy. The centre's influence extends over the entire eastern part of the Grand Est region (Nancy, Metz, Strasbourg, Mulhouse).