Extra-anatomic bypass grafting for aortoesophageal fistula: A logical operation

• Published in: Journal of vascular surgery 2000-11, Vol.32 (5), p.1030-1033
• Main Authors: Madan, Atul K., Santora, Thomas A., DiSesa, Verdi J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic - complications; Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic - diagnostic imaging; Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic - surgery; Aortography; Biological and medical sciences; Blood Vessel Prosthesis; Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation - methods; Esophageal Fistula - complications; Esophageal Fistula - diagnosis; Esophageal Fistula - surgery; Fatal Outcome; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage - diagnosis; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage - etiology; Graft Survival; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Surgery of the heart; Vascular Fistula - complications; Vascular Fistula - diagnosis; Vascular Fistula - surgery; Vascular Surgical Procedures - methods
• ISSN: 0741-5214; 1097-6809
• DOI: 10.1067/mva.2000.107767

Aortoesophageal fistula (AEF) is an uncommon cause of upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage. Usually, but not always, patients present with a small sentinel bleed followed by a variable interval of apparent resolution, and then they experience a massive exsanguinating hemorrhage. The variable interval of time after the sentinel bleed is the period in which most AEFs resulting from thoracic aortic aneurysm have been successfully treated. Although only a few successful cases have been reported in the literature, most describe an in situ repair. We describe treatment of a late-presenting AEF due to a thoracic aneurysm with an extra-anatomic bypass graft for the aortic repair. (J Vasc Surg 2000;32:1030-3.)