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Secondary aortoesophageal fistula
1Department of Surgery, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI 48202, USA.
Journal of Vascular Surgery
|July 1, 1997
Summary
This study presents a rare case of secondary aortoesophageal fistula, a usually fatal condition. Successful management was achieved through surgical repair, offering hope for similar aortic fistula cases.
Area of Science:
- Vascular Surgery
- Gastroenterology
- Thoracic Surgery
Background:
- Secondary aortoesophageal fistula is a rare and often fatal complication following aortic reconstruction.
- Characterized by abnormal communication between the aorta and esophagus, it poses significant management challenges.
Observation:
- A patient developed a secondary aortoesophageal fistula 14 months after repair of a Crawford type II thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm.
- Diagnosis was confirmed using esophagogastroduodenoscopy and aortography.
Findings:
- Surgical exploration revealed a communication at the proximal anastomosis with minimal mediastinal contamination.
- The patient underwent successful repair involving graft replacement of the anastomosis and primary esophageal closure with reinforcement.
Implications:
- This case demonstrates the potential for successful management of secondary aortoesophageal fistula, previously considered uniformly fatal.
- The described surgical technique offers a viable approach for treating this rare but devastating complication.
- Highlights the importance of multimodal diagnostic imaging and timely surgical intervention.