Aortoesophageal fistula: an uncommon complication after stent-graft repair of an aortic thoracic aneurysm.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:

To report the incidence and management of aortoesophageal fistula (AEF) secondary to endovascular stent-graft repair of the descending thoracic aorta.

METHODS:

We analyze a case of AEF as a late complication of stent-graft repair of a thoracic aortic aneurysm in a 74-year-old male. We also include a discussion on alternatives of treatment based on a review of the literature currently available in MEDLINE.

RESULTS:

This patient was admitted to our hospital because of constitutional symptoms. The diagnosis was established by computed tomography and upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. The patient died 50 days after admission.

CONCLUSIONS:

AEF is a catastrophic complication of endovascular stent-graft placement. Treatment options are very limited, as these patients are usually not candidates for open surgery. Conservative treatment is often associated with fatal results.

• Authors: Guillermo Isasti, Juan José Gómez-Doblas, Eduardo Olalla
• Journal: Interactive cardiovascular and thoracic surgery (Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg) Vol. 9 Issue 4 Pg. 683-4 (Oct 2009) ISSN: 1569-9285 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 19581294 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article, Review)

Topics

• Aged
• Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic (surgery)
• Aortic Diseases (diagnosis, etiology, therapy)
• Aortography (methods)
• Blood Vessel Prosthesis
• Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation (adverse effects, instrumentation)
• Esophageal Fistula (diagnosis, etiology, therapy)
• Esophagoscopy
• Fatal Outcome
• Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage (etiology)
• Humans
• Male
• Stents
• Tomography, X-Ray Computed
• Treatment Outcome
• Vascular Fistula (diagnosis, etiology, therapy)