Changes

==Treatment==

==Treatment==

Surgical repair of the fistula is required to prevent continued leakage of ingesta into the respiratory tract or mediastinum.  An oesophagotomy incision is made to excise the fistula and the defect in the wall is then closed in a longitudinal orientation to reduce the risk of stricture formation.  If one or more lobes of the lung are severely consolidated due to the presence of ingested material, these may be removed in a complete lobectomy.  Any oesophageal foreign bodies should be removed as described [[Oesophageal Foreign Body#Treatment|here]].

Surgical repair of the fistula is required to prevent continued leakage of ingesta into the respiratory tract or mediastinum.  An oesophagotomy incision is made to excise the fistula and the defect in the wall is then closed in a longitudinal orientation to reduce the risk of stricture formation.  If one or more lobes of the lung are severely consolidated due to the presence of ingested material, these may be removed in a complete lobectomy.  Any [[Oesophageal Foreign Body#Treatment|oesophageal foreign bodies should be removed]].  

Post-operatively, food should be withheld for 24-48 hours and the animal should receive only soft food thereafter.  Sucralfate can be used to reduce any residual oesophagitis or ulceration and the patient should receive a full (4-6 week) course of antibiotics to clear any remaining respiratory infection.  The choice of antibiotic should ideally be guided by culture of pulmonary fluid obtained during a lobectomy, if this is performed.  

Post-operatively, food should be withheld for 24-48 hours and the animal should receive only soft food thereafter.  Sucralfate can be used to reduce any residual oesophagitis or ulceration and the patient should receive a full (4-6 week) course of antibiotics to clear any remaining respiratory infection.  The choice of antibiotic should ideally be guided by culture of pulmonary fluid obtained during a lobectomy, if this is performed.