title: Aortoesophageal fistula as a complication of thoracic aorta aneurism stent grafting - a case report and literature review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Endovascular stent grafting is performed in patients with aneurysms of aorta or other major vessels. The procedure is considered to be generally safe, with a low risk of complications, the most common of which include endoleaks, stenosis or thrombosis at the stagraft and itsmigration. Very rare complications include aortoesophageal and aortobronchial fistulas (0.5-1.7% cases).
  
  
  METHODS
  A 64-year-old patient was admitted to our hospital with suspected aortoesophageal fistula. Two years prior, the patient had undergone a stent graft repair of the thoracic aorta at the local vascular surgery clinic. Both laboratory results and CT angiography revealed aortoesophageal fistula, which was also detected in endoscopic examination. Despite intensive treatment and preparation for surgery, the patient died 6 days after admission.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Aortoesophageal and aortobronchial fistulas are among the most dangerous and difficult-to-treat complications in the treatment of thoracic aortic aneurysms by endovascular stent-grafting. This clearly indicates that preventive care and regular medical examinations are important to prevent their occurrence.
authors.affiliation: Lower Silesian Center for Diagnostic Imaging, Regional Specialist Hospital in Wrocław, Research and Development Center, Wrocław, Poland.
authors.forename: Bartosz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dołęga-Kozierowski
authors.forename: Kyriakous
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sokratous
authors.forename: Krzysztof
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dyś
authors.forename: Michał
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lis
authors.forename: Stanisław
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ferenc
authors.forename: Stanisław
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Drelichowski
authors.forename: Wojciech
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Witkiewicz