Repair of Secondary Aortoesophageal Fistula by Endoluminal Stent-Grafting

Lethal hemorrhage caused by aortoesophageal fistula secondary to stent-graft repair of the thoracic aorta

Aortoesophageal fistula (AEF) is a rare but life-threatening complication after endovascular or surgical aortic repair. Here we report a patient with AEF secondary to aortic stent-placement 2 years earlier who presented with hematemesis and died from hemorrhagic shock. By means of this case and the literature, we highlight potential bleeding sources in such a scenario because this is of crucial importance for the management strategy.

Survival in a 2-year-old boy with hemorrhage secondary to an aortoesophageal fistula

Aortoesophageal fistula (AOF) in children with no history of cardiac disease or trauma is extremely rare, and survival is even rarer. We present a case of a 2-year-old boy who presented with massive hematemesis secondary to a primary aortoesophageal fistula and was found at endoscopy to have a submucosal hematoma. He then suffered a cardiac arrest with further catastrophic bleeding only controlled by a Sengstaken-Blakemore tube. Subsequent cardiopulmonary bypass was instituted and allowed direct repair of the fistula. He was discharged home 4 weeks later. The etiology of the fistula remains unknown.

[Upper digestive hemorrhage due to aortoesophageal fistula]

We describe the case of a 60-year-old woman who presented with thoracic pain followed by hematemesis. Aortoesophageal fistula was diagnosed. Double aortic and esophageal protheses were placed with good clinical outcome. After 15 days, the patient presented migration of the esophageal prothesis and a further endoscopic examination was performed. A fishbone was visualized in the fistula orifice.

Endoscopic Diagnosis of a Clinically Silent Aortoesophageal Fistula: Case Report and Review of the Literature

We report a rare case of a secondary aortoesophageal fistula discovered incidentally during elective upper endoscopy. The patient had previously undergone repair of a descending thoracic aortic aneurysm with a Dacron interposition graft. Esophagoscopy 2 months after the aneurysm repair demonstrated a large mid-esophageal erosion with visualization of the aortic graft at the base. The aortoesophageal fistula had been clinically silent to this point. During preparation for surgery the patient developed large-volume esophageal hemorrhage and died following attempted endovascular repair of the fistula. A review of the literature on the diagnosis and surgical management of aortoesophageal fistula is presented.