[Massive hemoptysis from an aortobronchial fistula]

This is a report of a 61 year old man who was admitted at the Intensive Care Unit because of massive hemoptysis and respiratory failure. Four years before he had had an aortic dissection type A, and at that time an aortic valve, ascending aorta and aortic arch replacement, had been carried out. A thorax CT scan showed an aneurysm of the ascending aorta. A bronchoscopy was normal. In the angiography, a collateral of the left mammary artery was identified as the cause of bleeding and was subsequently embolized. After the procedure, the patient had a new episode of massive hemoptysis, and surgery was recommended. During surgery, the diagnosis of aortobronchial fistula was confirmed but the patient died during the intervention.