title: Surgical management of aortoesophageal fistula caused by foreign bodies.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Aortoesophageal fistula (AEF) is a rare complication of foreign-body ingestion but is often life threatening.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between July 2006 and July 2009, four patients (two male and two female, age between 54 and 62 years old) with AEF were treated in our center. Cardiopulmonary bypass was established in all cases. The infected aorta was resected and replaced with aortic Dacron graft. The esophagus was mobilized and removed, and the digestive tract was reconstructed 1-2 months later after the first operation, by performing anastomosis of the esophagus and stomach at the neck.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All four cases were treated successfully and survived up to the days when this article was written.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It might be a safer way to perform this surgery under cardiopulmonary bypass. Thorough surgical debridement should be done, including resection of thoracic esophagus, adequate irrigation and flushing, and full draining of the chest cavity. Reconstruction of the digestive tract in the second stage of this two-stage operation should be the safest choice.
authors.affiliation: Zhongshan Hospital of Fudan University, No 136 Yixueyuan Road, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: Di
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ge
authors.forename: Yu Jia
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Chunsheng
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical / Q000379:methods; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation / Q000379:methods; D002315:Cardiopulmonary Bypass; D004937:Esophageal Fistula / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D004947:Esophagus; D005260:Female; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016157:Vascular Fistula / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*