Acquired tracheo-esophageal fistula in the pediatric population

Acquired tracheo-esophageal fistula (TEF) in the paediatric population is a rare entity, an acquired fistula can be due to tracheotomy tubes and tracheotomy cuffs. Patients with burns are at greater risk from these tracheotomy complications. Acquired TEF can also occur due to a foreign body impaction. Prevention and early diagnosis are important. In patients with possible airway burns, 'safe' intracuff pressures maybe too high. To avoid further damage of the mucosa, the patient should have a small air leak maintained if a cuff is used. Most acquired TEF do not close spontaneously and surgical closure is required. Our paper presents two cases of acquired TEF in the pediatric population and reviews the literature on this subject.