Aortoesophageal fistula after repair of descending aortic dissection

The development of aortoesophageal fistula after aortic repair is rare. We describe a patient who presented with hematemesis 4 months after emergent repair of a descending thoracic aortic dissection using a prosthetic graft. Diagnosis was supported by computed tomographic, angiographic, and endoscopic findings. Resection of the involved graft was performed through a left thoracotomy after placement of an ascending aorta-to-abdominal aorta conduit through an anterior approach. The patient died of uncontrollable bleeding a few hours after the procedure. Surgical intervention offers the potential for cure in this otherwise uniformly fatal condition. But like medical therapy, operative management has thus far been associated with 100% mortality.