Bronchopleurobiliary fistula. A complication of intrahepatic biliary stent migration

Chest. 1988 Oct;94(4):874-5. doi: 10.1378/chest.94.4.874.

Abstract

We describe the management of bronchopleurobiliary fistula in a 56-year-old woman who underwent a (L) mastectomy with postoperative radio- and chemotherapy for advanced breast carcinoma and required insertion of inhabiliary Silastic stents for the relief of severe obstructive jaundice. During restaging of her carcinoma for further chemotherapy, she complained of dyspnea, right chest pain and productive cough with yellow sputum. Her chest x-ray film and thoraco-abdominal CT scan demonstrated right pleural effusion with a stent protruding through the right hemidiaphragm. The objective evidence of bile in the pleural aspirate with history of bile-stained sputum established the diagnosis of bronchopleurobiliary fistula resulting from biliary stent migration.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Bile Ducts / surgery
  • Biliary Fistula / diagnostic imaging
  • Biliary Fistula / etiology*
  • Bronchial Fistula / diagnostic imaging
  • Bronchial Fistula / etiology*
  • Female
  • Fistula / diagnostic imaging
  • Fistula / etiology*
  • Foreign Bodies / complications*
  • Foreign-Body Migration / complications*
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Pleural Diseases / diagnostic imaging
  • Pleural Diseases / etiology*
  • Prostheses and Implants / adverse effects
  • Radiography