Successful Endovascular Stent-Graft Treatment for an Aortoesophageal Fistula Caused by a Descending Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm: Report of a Case

Conventional surgery for aortoesophageal fistula (AEF) is technically difficult, and is associated with high morbidity and mortality. We report a case of primary AEF caused by a descending thoracic aortic aneurysm, which was successfully treated with an endovascular stent-graft technique. The patient has been followed up for 3 years with no signs of infection.     

Aortoesophageal fistula: alternatives of treatment case report and literature review.

Aortoesophageal fistula (AEF) remains as a life-threatening condition with a high rate of morbidity and mortality. It is usually related to aortic or esophageal disease, and less commonly foreign body ingestion. In spite of several strategies for treatment, there is little consensus regarding the optimal management of this entity. In this paper, we present our experience in successfully managing one patient with AEF by performing open surgical repair. We also include a discussion on criteria for selecting the most appropriate alternative of treatment: open or endovascular repair, based on a review of the literature currently available in MEDLINE.     

Successful Endovascular Treatment of Bleeding Aortoenteric Fistula: A Case Report

Aortoenteric fistula (AEF) is an infrequent but disastrous complication of open abdominal aortic repair. Left untreated, it has a 100% fatality rate. The traditional approaches to the repair of secondary AEF (SAEF) are associated with average mortality rates of 21-59% and numerous major complications. Here, we report a case of acute gastrointestinal bleeding due to SAEF, successfully treated with endovascular stent graft repair. At 1-year follow-up, the patient was doing well without any signs of recurrent fistula. Endovascular treatment of AEF provides another treatment option that may be particularly valuable in patients whose comorbidities would preclude open repair.     

继发性腹主动脉瘤肠瘘的诊治分析

目的总结继发性腹主动脉瘤肠瘘的诊治经验,提高治疗效果。 方法回顾性分析本院2000年1月至2014年12月接诊的6例腹主动脉瘤开放及腔内修复术后继发肠瘘患者的资料。2例初次手术方式为腹主动脉瘤切除+人工血管置换,4例为腹主动脉瘤腔内修复术。本次均以反复发热就诊,发热距初次手术中位时间11个月（1~27个月）,2例伴有"预兆性消化道出血"。再次手术前确诊3例,其中2例放弃治疗。4例患者经充分准备后施行腋动脉-双侧股动脉人工血管旁路、移植物取出及肠修补,其中1例伴有主动脉膀胱瘘的患者同时行膀胱修补。 结果肠瘘位于十二指肠水平段2例,空肠上中段4例。4例接受再次手术的患者均痊愈出院,随访3~48个月,1例人工血管旁路闭塞但无下肢严重缺血,无其他严重并发症。 结论继发性腹主动脉瘤肠瘘是腹主动脉瘤术后罕见的严重并发症,经充分的抗炎准备后建立解剖外旁路并及时移除植入物是有效的治疗手段。     

Emergent endovascular treatment of a bleeding recurrent aortoenteric fistula as a "bridge" to definitive surgical repair

We report the case of a 59-year-old man who developed a recurrent aortoenteric fistula (AEF) following previous aorto-bifemoral bypass grafting and subsequent AEF open repair with aorto-bifemoral graft excision and extra-anatomic reconstruction. The patient was treated emergently by means of endovascular plug deployment via a left brachial approach into the infrarenal aortic stump, obtaining recovery of hemodynamic stability. Five days later, he underwent elective relaparotomy, aortic plug removal, infrarenal aortic ligature, and duodenal repair. Endovascular strategies to rapidly stop bleeding associated with recurrent AEF may serve as a "bridge" to definitive open repair, as in the case discussed herein. Even if rare, recurrent AEF following previous prosthetic aortic graft excision and extra-anatomic revascularization represents a dreadful event. Since surgical treatment is technically demanding and time consuming in emergent settings, we present an "unconventional" endovascular option to obtain quick cessation of aortic bleeding.     

Endovascular repair for aorto-enteric fistula: a bridge too far or a bridge to surgery?

PURPOSE: To review our experience of endovascular treatment of aorto-enteric fistula (AEF). METHODS: Between March 1999 and March 2005, 15 patients in five university and teaching hospitals in Belgium and The Netherlands were treated for AEF by endovascular repair. Twelve (80%) were male. The mean age was 67 years. Thirteen (87%) had had previous aortic or iliac surgery, 1.7-307 months before. All patients showed clinical or biochemical signs of bleeding. Eight (53%) were in shock, five (33%) had systemic signs of infection. Eight (53%) patients were treated in an emergency setting. Ten (67%) were treated with an aortouniiliac device, three (20%) with an aortobiiliac device, one with a tube graft and one with occluders only. All patients received antibiotics postoperatively for a prolonged period of time. RESULTS: All AEF were successfully sealed, the 30-days mortality was nil. Mean hospital stay was 20 (2-81) days. One patient died 2.7 months later of postoperative complications, one died of lung cancer. Until now, there are no signs of reinfection in four (27%) patients (mean follow-up 15.7 (1-44) months). However, reinfection or recurrent AEF occurred in nine (60%) patients after 9.5 (0.61-31) months. Seven patients were reoperated successfully, two patients died after reintervention. CONCLUSION: Endovascular sealing of AEF is a promising technique, which provides time to treat shock, local and systemic infection, and co-morbidity. This creates a better situation to perform open repair in the future with possibly better outcome. Danger of reinfection remains high. Endovascular sealing of AEF should, therefore, be seen as a bridge to open surgery when possible.     

TEVAR后移植物感染合并主动脉食管瘘的外科治疗

背景与目的 主动脉食管瘘（AEF）是一种相对罕见的疾病,通常危及生命。尽管胸主动脉腔内修复术（TEVAR）已成为治疗胸主动脉瘤、胸主动脉夹层的一种成熟手术策略,但TEVAR后继发性AEF更为棘手。笔者报告7例该疾病的治疗方式和结果。方法 回顾性分析2018—2021年间收治的7例TEVAR后继发性AEF合并移植物感染患者的临床资料。所有7例患者均接受了介入或手术治疗,其中4例患者施行了开放手术治疗,即：非体外循环下升主动脉－腹主动脉解剖外人工血管旁路术、感染移植物及感染灶切除术、食管瘘口旷置引流术;2例患者施行了TEVAR;1例患者分期施行了TEVAR和开放手术。结果 一期和分期施行开放手术治疗的5例患者,2例痊愈出院,3例死亡。单纯施行TEVAR的2例患者,计划待抗感染、营养支持后限期施行开放手术,治疗期间死亡。结论 因感染移植物及感染灶的存在,保守治疗或单纯行TEVAR往往无法使患者获得救治。虽然开放手术病死率较高,但在条件允许时,清除感染灶及移植物,并进行解剖外主动脉重建及食管瘘旷置引流,是治疗TEVAR术后移植物感染合并主动脉食管瘘的合理策略。     

Zentraler Protheseninfekt bei aortoenteraler Fistel – Gibt es beim Hochrisikopatienten eine Alternative zum Prothesenausbau?

The aortoenteric fistula (AEF) is a rare complication with an incidence of 0.4–2.4?%. Treatment includes endovascular and open surgical options with mortality rates between 20 and 100?%. In a secondary graft infection, extra-anatomic revascularization with two-stage graft removal and aortic ligature or in situ reconstruction is not feasible in all patients if comorbitities are taken into consideration. An endovascular bridging maneuver with subsequent resection of the fistula-containing segment and intraoperative drainage can represent an alternative to graft removal in selected high-risk patients. However, a definitive cure can not be achieved with a high probability.     

腹主动脉瘤腔内修复术后移植物感染的治疗及预后分析

目的:总结腹主动脉瘤腔内修复术(EVAR)后移植物感染的诊治经验。方法:回顾性总结中山大学附属第一医院血管外科2011年1月至2019年6月诊治的腹主动脉瘤EVAR术后移植物感染的患者资料,并对感染原因、临床表现、再次干预方式及预后进行分析。结果:15例患者均为男性,中位年龄65岁(48~77岁),与首次EVAR的中位间隔时间为7.5个月(21 d^27个月),合并主动脉肠瘘(AEF)6例(40%),细菌培养阳性率47%(7/15)。4例(AEF 2例、无AEF 2例)接受保守治疗。11例(AEF 4例,无AEF 7例)接受手术取出支架,其中9例行腋-双股动脉旁路+主动脉残端闭合,2例行原位腹主动脉重建,其中合并AEF者同时进行了肠瘘修补术。30 d内死亡率为33%(5/15),围术期死亡3例,保守治疗2例且为合并AEF患者。10例存活患者中位随访时间33个月(6~54个月)。2例保守治疗者中长期死亡率为50%(1/2),感染再发率为100%(2/2);8例术后患者仅1例2年后死于脑血管意外,中长期死亡率为13%(1/8),感染再发率为0%(0/8)。患者总体死亡率为47%(7/15),其中合并AEF患者(67%,4/6)30 d内死亡率高于无AEF者(11%,1/11)(P=0.047),而合并AEF(50%,1/2)和无AEF患者(25%,2/8)中长期死亡率及感染再发率无明显差异(P=0.38)。结论:EVAR术后移植物感染死亡率高,而合并AEF患者早期死亡率高。保守治疗往往效果不佳,基于充分的抗感染后的外科治疗是一个有效的干预措施。     

Aortoenteric fistula treated with endovascular aortic stent-graft and bilateral chimney stent-grafts to renal arteries

We report a patient with secondary aortoenteric fistula (AEF) presenting with a rectal bleeding. The patient had multiple comorbidities, precluding major open vascular surgery. We opted to perform a two-stage procedure, where an endovascular stent-graft was first deployed to exclude the AEF from the systemic circulation. As the AEF was at the proximal anastomosis of the previous Dacron graft and close to the renal artery ostia, chimney stent-grafts were placed in both renal arteries to maintain their patency. The second stage of the procedure involved a laparotomy to repair the defect in the duodenum to prevent further contamination from bowel contents.     

Successful management of an aortoesophageal fistula caused by a fish bone – case report and review of literature

We report a case of aortoesophageal fistula (AEF) caused by a fish bone that had a successful outcome. Aortoesophageal fistula is a rare complication of foreign body ingestion from which few patients survive. Over one hundred cases of AEF secondary to foreign body ingestion have been documented but only seven, including our case, have survived over 12 months. Treatment involved stabilising the patient with a Sengstaken-Blakemore tube and insertion of a thoracic aortic endovascular stent-graft. Unfortunately the stent became infected and definitive open surgical repair involved removing the stent, replacing the aorta with a homograft and coverage with a left trapezius flap while under deep hypothermic arrest.     

Aortoenteric Fistula After Endovascular Stent Grafting for an Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm: Report of a Case

We report a case of an aortoenteric fistula (AEF) developing after endovascular stent grafting (EVSG) for an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). A 69-year-old male patient with a history of panperitonitis caused by rectal perforation underwent EVSG for an AAA. A follow-up contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) scan, done 12 months after the EVSG, confirmed shrinkage of the AAA with no endoleak. However, 19 months postoperatively, an AEF developed between the AAA and the jejunum. Although there was no endoleak on a subsequent CT scan, we noted enlargement of the AAA and inflammatory changes in the surrounding tissue. The patient was treated surgically and discharged in good health 74 days postoperatively. Thus, one should consider the possibility of this devastating complication, even in patients without an endoleak, after EVSG for AAA.     

Recurrent aortoenteric fistula: two different bridge solutions

A "recurrent" aortoenteric fistula (AEF) is very rare and in literature anecdotic. Currently, graft excision and extra-anatomic bypass are considered the treatments of choice, but are associated with significant mortality and morbidity. Herein, we describe the case of a "recurrent" AEF treated before definitive extra-anatomic bypass, by two different, staged bridge solutions: allograft in situ replacement and endovascular grafting. At 1, 3 and 6-month follow-up, the patient was asymptomatic and normally active.     

Surgical strategy for aortoesophageal fistula in the endovascular era

Objective

Aortoesophageal fistula (AEF) is relatively rare and usually life-threatening. Lots of strategies have so far been discussed for this entity including the role of endovascular repair. The aim of this study is to review our experiences and reconsider the surgical strategy for aortoesophageal fistula in the endovascular era.

Methods

This is a retrospective multicenter study. From 1995 to 2011, 10 aortoesophageal fistula cases were identified in four institutions. For all of these cases surgical procedures and results were retrieved from medical records.

Results

Six patients underwent open aortic repair and four patients underwent thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) as a primary intervention. Three patients who underwent open aortic repair with esophagectomy and omental coverage in early phase, either as a primary intervention or performed after bridging TEVAR, showed 100 % 1-year survival. On the other hand, three patients with TEVAR alone did not survive more than 1 year without recurrence. One patient with bridging TEVAR underwent concomitant esophageal resection and conventional aortic graft replacement 2 days later, and simultaneous gastric tube reconstruction was performed with intact whole omentum covering the aortic prosthesis. This patient is doing well with no sign of infection at 1-year follow-up.

Conclusion

For AEF, TEVAR as a primary approach is quite useful to stabilize the patients’ condition. However, definitive aortic repair with omental coverage should be performed as early as possible as a next step. It may be one of the strategies for the treatment of AEF that concomitant esophageal resection and aortic graft replacement is performed with simultaneous gastric tube reconstruction with intact whole omentum after removing the stent graft, so far as the patient’s physical condition permits.     

Surgical treatment of aortoesophageal fistula induced by a foreign body in the esophagus: 40 years of experience at a single hospital

Background

Aortoesophageal fistula (AEF) is a rare but usually fatal complication of a foreign body in the esophagus. Little effective therapy exists to cure an AEF induced by esophageal foreign body. This report describes the authors’ 40 years of experience treating patients with AEF caused by a foreign body and compares different treatments of patients and their clinical outcomes.

Methods

The treatments of five patients with AEF caused by esophageal foreign body impaction were recorded at Wuhan General Hospital of Guangzhou Command from 1970 to 2011. One of these five patients was managed with nonsurgical measures, whereas three were treated by surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass, and one was treated by surgery with endovascular stent-graft repair.

Results

All five AEF cases were confirmed by computed tomography, esophagogastroscopy, surgical findings, or two or both. The nonsurgically treated patient died of fatal hemorrhage. Another patient died during the postoperative period because of ventricular fibrillation (he had a history of coronary heart disease before the operation), and still another patient died of fatal hemorrhage during the surgery. The remaining two patients were completely cured by surgery: the one via traditional open thoracotomy with cardiopulmonary bypass and the other by surgery with endovascular stent-graft repair.

Conclusions

The authors’ experience indicates that early diagnosis and an aggressive surgical treatment without delay is the only form of effective therapy for AEF. Endovascular stent-graft repair may be a safe and feasible method for treating patients with AEF that has potential as an improved treatment option for AEF.     

Surgical strategy for the treatment of aortoesophageal fistula

Objective

To present a surgical strategy for aortoesophageal fistula (AEF).

Aorto-enteric fistula is a serious complication to aortic surgery. Modern trends in diagnosis and therapy

Secondary aorto-enteric fistula (AEF) is a serious, but rare, complication following surgery of the abdominal aorta. AEF occurs in 0.3-2%, but is associated with a hospital mortality between 25-90%. It is also associated with an important morbidity with a lower limb amputation rate of 9%, and a 15% risk for renewed graft infection. Nine secondary AEF were surgically treated. The hospital mortality was high,44% (4/9). Recurrent AEF was observed in 1 patient 2 years after the first operation. During follow-up 2 patients had mild infections which were resolved by antibiotic treatment. Diagnostic modalities, and recent advancements in surgical treatment as well as preventive measures are discussed.     

Hemoptysis is frequently fatal if blood comes directly from the aorta commentary

Physicians throughout the world, across various specialties, are faced with diagnostic challenges of appropriately identifying the source of hemotosysis, which could range from a simple treatable infection, to the more ominous massive hemorrhage from the aorta requiring emergency, life saving surgery. Aortobronchopulmonary fistula, which is an abnormal communication between the thoracic aorta and the pulmonary tree, is an uncommon but often lethal condition if not promptly surgically intervened. Over the decades, the underlying cause has shifted, from primarily due to an aortic infection, such as tuberculosis, to now secondarily as a result of endovascular repair of the intrathoracic aorta. The best treatment modality, whether open surgical repair, endovascular management, or hybrid approach continues to be debated given the high operative morbidity and mortality of open repair and need to address the pulmonary communication, with optimal management still undetermined.     

Aortoduodenal Fistula Six Weeks after EVAR for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm: A Case Report

The technique of endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm has markedly improved over the years, showing a lower 30-day mortality rate compared to the open technique. Despite improvements, the percentage of reinterventions remains high due to late failure. A rare but severe complication of EVAR is the development of an aortoduodenal fistula, which has a very high mortality rate. The pathogenesis still remains unclear.     

Evolving strategies for the treatment of aortoenteric fistulas

BACKGROUND: Aortoenteric fistulas (AEFs) are a rare but often fatal cause of gastrointestinal bleeding. Operative repair of AEF has been historically associated with extremely high morbidity and mortality. We reviewed our experience of open surgical and endovascular treatment of AEF to compare outcomes over a contemporaneous time period. METHODS: Over a 9-year period between January 1997 and January 2006, 16 patients (11 men and 5 women) were diagnosed with and treated for AEFs. Seven patients underwent open surgical repair, and nine, with anatomically suitable lesions, underwent endovascular repair. The outcome after treatment of these patients was investigated for survival, perioperative complications, length of hospital stay, and long-term disposition. RESULTS: Three primary and 13 secondary AEFs were treated. The mean time from the initial aortic operation until AEF diagnosis was 5.9 years (range, 0.7-12.2 years) for patients with secondary AEFs. The overall 30-day mortality rate was 18.8%. One intraoperative death and one in-hospital death secondary to multisystem organ failure occurred in patients undergoing open repair. One in-hospital death related to persistent sepsis occurred in the endovascular group. The overall perioperative complication rate was 50.0%. Complications in the open group included sepsis, renal failure, bowel obstruction, and pancreatitis. Complications in the endovascular group were related to persistent sepsis. The mean in-hospital length of stay was significantly longer for patients undergoing open repair compared with endovascular repair (44.0 vs 19.4 days; P = .04). Four (80%) of five patients who were discharged from the hospital in the open group were placed in skilled nursing facilities, and seven (87.5%) of eight patients discharged in the endovascular group returned home. The median overall survival after hospital discharge was 23.1 months. There were no late aneurysm-related deaths or late deaths related to septic complications. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with AEFs have limited overall survival. Endovascular therapy offers an alternative to open surgical repair, seems to be associated with decreased perioperative morbidity and mortality and a shorter in-hospital stay, and allows for acceptable survival given the presence of coexisting medical comorbidities. Furthermore, endovascular repair provides a therapeutic option to control bleeding and allow for continued intervention in a stabilized setting.