Aortoesophageal fistula caused by foreign body

Aortoesophageal fistula is rare. A woman who developed aortoesophageal fistula after swallowing a fish bone developed hematemesis. 7 days later, we resected a false aneurysm near the left subclavian artery and repaired this section twice. Despite these measures, the woman died on hospital day 21. The clinical diagnosis was massive hematemesis from an infected aortic wall. The method of diagnosis, control of infection, and operative repair of aortoesophageal fistula are discussed.