Aortoesophageal Fistula Secondary to Stent-Graft Repair of the Thoracic Aorta

Purpose: To report the incidence and management of aortoesophageal fistula (AEF) secondary to endovascular stent-graft repair of the descending thoracic aorta. Methods: A retrospective review was conducted of patients treated at our facility between July 1999 and June 2003. During this interval, 60 patients (46 men; average age 66±10 years) underwent thoracic aortic stent-graft placement for a variety of pathologies. Results: AEF occurred in 3 (5%) patients. One 62-year-old man presented with recurrent back pain and fever and died suddenly due to fatal exsanguination; the AEF was revealed at necropsy. The other 2 patients (both woman) presented with hematemesis after endovascular repair of thoracic aortic aneurysms. AEF was detected by esophagogastroduodenoscopy. Both patients were treated conservatively, as open surgical repair was refused because of their general condition. Both patients developed severe mediastinitis and died after 5 weeks and 10 months, respectively. Conclusions: Aortoesophageal fistula is, in our experience, a catastrophic complication of endovascular stent-graft placement. Treatment options are very limited, as these patients are usually not candidates for open surgery. Outcome under conservative management is, however, almost invariably fatal.