Clinical study of pedicled sternocleidomastoid muscle flap interposition for cervical tracheo oesophageal fistula repair at a tertiary care hospital

Introduction: Tracheo Oesophageal Fistula (TEF) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality necessitating complex clinical evaluation and decision making for optimal management. It is best treated in a specialty tertiary care setting by a multidisciplinary team approach. In acquired non-malignant causes of airway-oesophageal fistulas, the patients suffer from significant morbidity due to recurrent pulmonary sepsis. These diseases are complex and mandate critical preoperative evaluation for optimal management. Prolonged endotracheal intubation combined with a nasogastric tube may lead to a TEF. This results from pressure necrosis generated by a ventilating cuff in the trachea and a prolonged feeding tube in the esophagus. Aim of the study: To study the results of function preserving pedicled perforator based sternocleidomastoid muscle as an inter position flap after primary repair of cervical trachea-oesophageal fistula. Materials and methods: The study was conducted from the period of one year from 2015-2016 at IRRH and Plastic Surgery Department of Government Stanley Medical College, Chennai. Totally 15 patients were included in the study. Patients with clinical presentation were evaluated, a pre operative investigation like Bronchoscopy, OGD MRI, CECT of the neck was taken. All patients with tracheal oesophageal fistula in the cervical region following corrosive poisoning (organophosphates) on prolonged intubation who under went closure with the pedicled sternocleidomastoid muscle as an interposition flap. Results: All patients diagnosed with Tracheo oesophageal fistula following corrosive poisoning on prolonged intubation were included. (N = 15). The study period was from 2015 to 2016. Patient's demographic data and clinical course were closely monitored and recorded. All Patients recovered well. Oral feeding started (liquids) on 4th post-operative day after doing gastro Graffin study, and solids on the 10th day. No recurrence in 1 year follows up. Conclusion: In our technique, we maintained the intramuscular cock screw perforators from the transverse cervical artery. This constant anatomy favored us to use sternal head component separate from the clavicular head and interposed them between the repaired trachea and esophagus. Preserving the clavicular head of SCM maintains the form and function of the muscle. The vascularized muscle flap prevents both tracheal and oesophageal strictures and stenosis.