Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair of Esophageal Cancer-Associated Aortoesophageal Fistula: A Case Report and Literature Review

Abstract EN

Background.

Thoracic endovascular aortic repair of an aortoesophageal fistula is an effective emergency treatment for patients with T4-esophageal cancer, as it prevents sudden death, and is a bridge to surgery.

However, the course of unresectable malignant aortoesophageal fistula treated with thoracic endovascular aortic repair alone is not well-known.

Case Presentation.

We report a 67-year-old Japanese man with T4-esophageal cancer who experienced a chemoradiation-induced aortoesophageal fistula and was rescued with thoracic endovascular aortic repair.

He recovered after the procedure and survived for 4 additional months with management of a mycotic aneurysm and secondary aortoesophageal fistula with the exposure of the stent graft into the esophagus.

Thoracic endovascular aortic repair of aortoesophageal fistula with T4-esophageal cancer extended life for nearly an average of 4 months in the reported cases.

As a postoperative complication, the exposure of the stent graft into the esophagus is rare but life-threatening; the esophageal stent insertion was effective.

Conclusions.

With postoperative management advances, thoracic endovascular aortic repair can improve survival and increase the quality of life of patients with T4-esophageal cancer.