Secondary aortoesophageal fistula after endoluminal exclusion because of thoracic aortic transection

• Published in: Journal of vascular surgery Vol. 37; no. 4; pp. 886 - 888
• Main Authors: Hance, Kirk A., Hsu, Johnny, Eskew, Thomas, Hermreck, Arlo S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01-04-2003; Elsevier
• Subjects: Accidents, Traffic; Adult; Aneurysm, False - etiology; Aneurysm, False - surgery; Angioplasty - adverse effects; Aorta, Thoracic - injuries; Aortic Diseases - etiology; Aortic Diseases - surgery; Biological and medical sciences; Blood and lymphatic vessels; Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation - adverse effects; Cardiology. Vascular system; Digestive System Surgical Procedures; Diseases of the aorta; Esophageal Fistula - etiology; Esophageal Fistula - surgery; Female; Hematemesis - etiology; Hematemesis - surgery; Humans; Medical sciences; Stents - adverse effects; Vascular Surgical Procedures; Wounds, Nonpenetrating - complications; Wounds, Nonpenetrating - surgery; Human; Endoprosthesis; Aneurysm; Cardiovascular disease; Fistula; Esophagus; Arterial disease; Vascular disease; Thoracic aorta; Case study; Treatment; Surgery; Aorta; Complication; Aortic disease
• ISSN: 0741-5214; 1097-6809
• DOI: 10.1067/mva.2003.159

Secondary aortoesophageal fistula (AEF) is a rare but catastrophic complication that occurs after thoracic aortic reconstruction. Recently endoluminal stent grafts have been used in selected patients with a thoracic aortic aneurysm, dissection, or traumatic aortic transection. A 24-year-old woman had massive upper gastrointestinal tract bleeding 15 months after endoluminal stent graft placement because of traumatic descending thoracic aortic transection. Evaluation demonstrated an AEF from the mid-esophagus to the endoluminal stent graft. The endoluminal graft was explanted, with primary repair of the thoracic aortic defect and simultaneous primary repair of the esophageal injury. The patient is well 15 months after open repair of the AEF. (J Vasc Surg 2003;37:886-8.)