Aorto-esophageal fistula (AEF) is a rare complication of esophageal carcinoma. Left untreated, it may be lethal due to massive upper gastrointestinal bleeding, while open thoracic surgery is associated with high operative mortality and morbidity. In contrast, thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) for AEF is less invasive than open thoracic surgery. Here, we report 3 successful cases of AEF with esophageal carcinoma treated using TEVAR under local anesthesia in the emergent or urgent phase. General condition of all the patients was dramatically improved, but 1 patient with exsanguinations developed infection of the implanted stent-graft and died due to sepsis. The other 2 patients were treated before esophageal bleeding and remained alive for 1 year without infection. The TEVAR should be considered as early as possible in patients with advanced esophageal carcinoma receiving radiation or chemotherapy who develop early signs of AEF such as symptoms of chest discomfort or descending aortic irregularity on computed tomography scan.
The ALPS approach provides good surgical exposure for distal aortic arch aneurysms extending to the descending aorta and ensures the accurate reconstruction of the distal anastomosis without major complications.
Kommerell's diverticulum causes compression of the esophagus between the aberrant origin of the left subclavian artery and ascending aorta, leading to dysphagia or dyspnea. We describe 3 cases of successful surgical treatment of right aortic arch with Kommerell's diverticulum and aberrant origin of the left subclavian artery, using a right anterolateral partial sternotomy. This allows both resection of the Kommerell's diverticulum as well as reconstruction of the aberrant origin of the left subclavian artery anatomically.
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