Endoluminal stent graft repair of aortobronchial fistulas.
OBJECTIVE
To describe our experience with endoluminal stent graft repair of aortobronchial fistulas.


METHODS
We reviewed the records of patients treated with endoluminal stent grafting of aortobronchial fistulas at a private teaching hospital. All patients underwent the following diagnostic studies: computed tomography, angiography, bronchoscopy, and transesophageal echocardiography. With standard endovascular techniques, two different devices were implanted.


RESULTS
Between March 1997 and October 2000, we treated four patients with postsurgical fistulas. The patients were diagnosed with hemoptysis between 3 and 23 years after aortic replacement grafting for thoracic aneurysms. Diagnostic studies varied in their ability to find the fistula. Transesophageal echocardiography most reliably demonstrated the fistula in the patients. All were successfully treated by exclusion with endoluminal stent grafting. The patients had no complications and no further episodes of hemoptysis.


CONCLUSIONS
Endoluminal stent grafting of aortobronchial fistulas is feasible and may become the preferred method of management in patients at high risk.
Thompson
Charles S
CS
Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Arizona Heart Institute and Arizona Heart Hospital, Phoenix 85016, USA.
Ramaiah
Venkatesh G
VG
Rodriquez-Lopez
Julio A
JA
Vranic
Mitar
M
Ravi
Rajogopalan
R
DiMugno
Leanne
L
Shafique
Shoaib
S
Olsen
Dawn
D
Diethrich
Edward B
EB
D000368:Aged; D017541:Aneurysm, False / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D017130:Angioplasty / Q000379:methods*; D017545:Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D001130:Arizona; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D001983:Bronchial Fistula / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D020680:Bronchoscopes; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006469:Hemoptysis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015607:Stents; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome