Transmural necrosis of the esophagus secondary to acute aortic dissection

A case of transmural ischemic necrosis of the esophagus scondary to aortic dissection is presented. A 66-year-old woman with acute type A aortic dissection underwent total arch replacement with a technique of deep hypothermic arrest and retrograde cerebral perfusion. Postoperatively she had hematemesis, and endoscopic examination revealed circumferential mucosal necrosis and desquamation of the lower esophagus. She died of multiple organ failure on postoperative day 74. Autopsy demonstrated transmural necrosis of the esophagus secondary to ischemia. Ischemia of the esophagus secondary to aortic dissection is extremely rare. (C) 2000 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons.