Successful repair of aortoesophageal fistula secondary to traumatic pseudoaneurysm

There have previously been only rare reported survivors bf an aortoesophageal fistula resulting from a traumatic pseudoaneurysm. We report a case of a young man with a dramatic presentation who was successfully managed by immediate operative repair. A prosthetic graft was sewn within the sac of the aneurysm, with the aneurysm wall being used to protect the graft, and the esophagus was resected. Staged reconstruction of the esophagus was subsequently performed successfully, The patient is now alive and well 2-1/2 years later. (Ann Thorac Surg 1998;66:936-8) (C) 1998 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons.