Secondary Rupture of Aorta following the Surgical Management of Aortoesophageal Fistula

Abstract

A patient suffering from an aortoesophageal fistula (AEF) caused by a fish bone, was treated in our institute in 2000. The operation was successful and the patient had an uneventful early postoperative course. However, the patient died of frank hematemesis on the 6^th postoperative day due to secondary rupture of the aorta. The lessons learnt and surgical efforts to manage AEF caused by an esophageal foreign body are discussed.