Work

Staged open surgical repair of an aortic esophageal fistula in the setting of an aortic dissection

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Aortoesophageal fistula is a rare but fatal complication commonly arising from thoracic aortic aneurysms or secondarily from thoracic endovascular aortic repair. Management remains challenging with few reports of durable repair. We present a 52-year-old woman with prior type A aortic dissection repair who developed persistent pain requiring arch replacement and thoracic endovascular aortic repair. She presented 4 months later with sepsis and imaging revealing extraluminal gas consistent with aortoesophageal fistula. She underwent graft explantation, debridement, and esophageal resection with delayed esophagostomy. Thirty months postoperatively, she remains stable. This case highlights early recognition and aggressive staged surgical management as critical for favorable outcomes.

Source: Journal of Vascular Surgery Cases and Innovative Techniques

DOI: 10.1016/j.jvscit.2025.102051

Authors: Sneha Thandra, Olivia Fuson, Victor Pretorius, Mark Onaitis, Mark Kearns, Ann Gaffey

Institution: University of California San Diego

Language: English

Topic: Infectious Aortic and Vascular Conditions

Subfield: Surgery

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,250