Table 1:

Characteristics of true benign cases treated for an oesophago-respiratory fistula

Sex	Age	Comorbidity	Level of anastomosis	Anastom. leak	Airway leak onset (day)	No of oesophageal stents	No of airway stents	Total stent time (days)	Fistula sealed by stent	In-hospital death	In-hospital stay	Outcome
M	78	Yes	Neck	No	17	6	3	143	No	No	123	Reconstructiona
M	50	No	n.a.	No	n.a.	6	3	unknown	No	No	10	Reconstructionb
M	61	Yes	n.a.	n.a.	10	0	1	19	No	Yes	53	Diedc
F	35	No	Neck	Yes	36	0	3	30	No	No	91	Reconstructiond

^aLye injury since childhood. Developed chronic strictures and was operated with oesophageal resection. After operation developed fistulas. Reconstructed 118 days postoperatively.

^bReferred to Karolinska University Hospital 1025 days after accidental lye injury. Initially operated at home hospital but developed fistulas. Reconstructed 1075 days after lye injury.

^cDied from lye injury.

^dFistulation after oesophageal resection. Reconstructed 329 days postoperatively.

n.a.: not applicable.