Aortoesophageal fistula (AEF) is a rare but fatal complication caused by foreign body ingestion. Aortic replacement and endovascular stent graft are the common repair surgeries. The materials to repair an aortic defect in AEF are typically homograft or allograft, but the use of an autologous pericardium patch is rarely reported. Here we reported a patient with AEF and severe mediastinal infection induced by chicken bone ingestion. In this case, the autologous pericardium patch was used as the repair material.
Aorta ; injuries ; surgery ; Aortic Diseases ; etiology ; surgery ; Autografts ; transplantation ; Esophageal Fistula ; etiology ; surgery ; Foreign Bodies ; complications ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage ; etiology ; surgery ; Humans ; Mediastinal Diseases ; surgery ; Pericardium ; transplantation ; Stents ; Transplantation, Autologous ; methods ; Vascular Fistula ; etiology ; surgery ; Vascular Grafting ; methods

An aortoesophageal fistula (AEF) is an extremely rare, potentially fatal condition, and aortic surgery is usually performed together with extracorporeal circulation. However, this surgical method has a high rate of surgical complications and mortality. This report describes an AEF caused by tuberculous esophagitis that was treated successfully using a two-stage operation. A 52-yr-old man was admitted to the hospital with severe hematemesis and syncope. Based on the computed tomography and diagnostic endoscopic findings, he was diagnosed with an AEF and initially underwent thoracic endovascular aortic repair. Esophageal reconstruction was performed after controlling the mediastinal inflammation. The patient suffered postoperative anastomotic leakage, which was treated by an endoscopic procedure, and the patient was discharged without any further problems. The patient received 9 months of anti-tuberculosis treatment after he was diagnosed with histologically confirmed tuberculous esophagitis; subsequently, he was followed as an outpatient and has had no recurrence of the tuberculosis or any further issues.
Aortic Diseases/etiology/*surgery ; Eosinophilic Esophagitis/*complications/*surgery ; Esophageal Fistula/etiology/*surgery ; Esophagoscopy/*methods ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome ; Tuberculosis/*complications/surgery ; Vascular Surgical Procedures/methods

The Ross operation, a procedure of replacement of the diseased aortic valve with an autologous pulmonary valve, has many advantages such as no need for anticoagulation therapy and similar valve function and growth potential as native valves. However secondary aortic disease has emerged as a significant complication and indication for reoperation. We report a 48-year-old woman who had Ross operation in 1997 for a damaged bicuspid aortic valve and severe aortic regurgitation due to subacute bacterial endocarditis complicated by aortic root abscess. In 2009, 12 years later, progressive severe aortic regurgitation with incomplete coaptation and mild dilatation of the aortic root was shown on echocardiography and contrasted CT, while the pulmonary homograft retained normal function. She subsequently underwent aortic valve replacement. Histopathological examination of the explanted neo-aortic valve and neo-arterial wall revealed pannus formation at the nodulus Arantii area of the three valve cusps, ventricularis, and arterialis. The amount of elastic fibres in the neo-aorta media was less than usual for an aorta of this patient's age but was similar to a pulmonary artery. The pathological findings were not different from other studies of specimens removed between 7 to 12 years after Ross operation. However, the pathophysiology and long-term implications of these findings remain debatable. Considering the anatomical and physiological changes induced by the procedure, separate mechanisms for aortic dilatation and regurgitation are worthy of consideration.
Aorta/*pathology ; Aortic Valve/*surgery ; Aortic Valve Insufficiency/*etiology ; Cardiovascular Surgical Procedures/*adverse effects ; Dilatation, Pathologic ; Heart Valve Diseases/*surgery ; Prostheses and Implants ; Pulmonary Valve/*transplantation

BACKGROUNDTotally laparoscopic aortic surgery is still in its infancy in China. One of the factors preventing adoption of this technique is its steep learning curve. The objective of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and safety of laparoscopic surgery for aortoiliac occlusive disease (AIOD).

METHODSFrom November 2008 to November 2012, 12 patients were treated for severe AIOD with a totally laparoscopic bypass surgery at our university hospital. The demographic data, operative data, postoperative recovery data, morbidity and mortality were analyzed and compared with those of conventional open approach.

RESULTSTwelve totally laparoscopic aortic surgery procedures, including two iliofemoral bypasses (IFB), three unilateral aortofemoral bypasses (UAFB), and seven aortobifemoral bypasses (ABFB), were performed. Conversion to open procedures was required in three patients. The mean operation time was 518 (range, 325-840) minutes, mean blood loss was 962 (range, 400-2500) ml, and mean aortic anastomosis time was 75 (range, 40-150) minutes. Compared with conventional open approach for aortofemoral bypasses performed concomitantly during this period, laparoscopic patients required fewer narcotics and a shorter in-hospital stay and earlier recovery. Postoperative complications developed in four patients, including a single patient with transient left hydronephrosis, ischemic colonic fistula and pneumonia, residual aortic stenosis proximal to the anastomotic site, and asymptomatic partial left renal infarction. All patients recovered and were discharged on postoperative Days 7-14 except one patient that died of respiratory failure on Day 46. All grafts were patent with follow-up imaging performed by Duplex examination, with a mean follow-up time of 10.7 (range, 2-61) months.

CONCLUSIONTotally laparoscopic bypass surgery is a feasible and safe procedure for AIOD, but attention needs to be paid to improve laparoscopic skills of vascular surgery in order to minimize morbidity during the learning curve of this advanced procedure.

Adult ; Aged ; Aortic Diseases ; surgery ; Arterial Occlusive Diseases ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Iliac Artery ; surgery ; Laparoscopy ; adverse effects ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications ; etiology

Aortoesophageal fistula is a rare and lethal disorder that may result from primary diseases of aorta or esophagus, aortic bypass graft, ingestion of foreign body, trauma, surgical procedure or instrumentation. Tuberculous fistula is extremely rare. We present a 27-yr-old female patient with aortoesophageal fistula associated with tuberculous mediastinitis. The patient experienced massive hematemesis and esophagoscopy revealed a small mucosal defect with exudate-coated blood vessel like Dieulafoy 's lesion on about 25 cm from the incisor teeth. Despite two sessions of endoscopic hemostatic procedures, active massive hemorrhage recurred and was controlled effectively with a prompt insertion of Sengstaken-Blakemore tube. The patient underwent open thoracotomy, which revealed aortoesophageal fistula. Numerous white-yellowish, millet seed-like tubercles were scattered in pleural and abdominal cavity. Division of fistular tract and esophageal resection with Ivor-Lewis anastomosis were performed. Histopathologic study confirmed tuberculous pleuritis and peritonitis. The patient died of postoperative pulmonary complication.
Adult ; *Aorta, Thoracic/pathology/surgery ; Aortic Diseases/*etiology/pathology/surgery ; Esophageal Fistula/*etiology/pathology/surgery ; *Esophagus/pathology/surgery ; Fatal Outcome ; Female ; Hematemesis/etiology/pathology/surgery ; Humans ; Mediastinitis/pathology ; Tuberculosis, Miliary/*complications

Although cervical epidural abscess is rare, it should be strongly suspected in any patient with unexplainable neck pain and fever, especially when the patient has a predisposing factor for this infectious process. The authors report a case of cervical epidural abscess in a 39-yr-old man with an aorto-duodenal fistula, which complicated the interposition of artificial graft for abdominal aortic aneurysm rupture, which had undertaken 40 months before. Timely detection and intervention rendered him a full neurological recovery. This extremely rare case is presented with a literature review.
Adult ; Aneurysm, Dissecting/complications ; Aneurysm, Dissecting/surgery ; Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal/complications ; Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal/surgery ; Aortic Diseases/complications* ; Aortic Rupture/complications ; Aortic Rupture/surgery ; Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation ; Cervical Vertebrae* ; Duodenal Diseases/complications* ; Duodenal Ulcer/complications ; Enterococcus ; Epidural Abscess/etiology* ; Epidural Abscess/microbiology ; Epidural Abscess/surgery ; Fistula/complications* ; Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections/complications ; Human ; Male ; Peptic Ulcer Perforation/complications ; Salmonella Infections/complications ; Staphylococcal Infections/complications

OBJECTIVETo explore the infrequent complications and treatment after endoluminal stent graft implantation for aortic diseases.

METHODSReview of the characters and complications for five cases of aortic diseases by stent graft implantation.

RESULTSThe complications of 4 cases have been relieved by operation or re-stent implantation, 1 case was died.

CONCLUSIONThe complications are difficult to forecast for stent graft placement in aortic diseases, the surgeon should be well practiced in surgical and interventional technique, so as to treat the complications in time.

Aged ; Aortic Diseases ; surgery ; Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation ; adverse effects ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications ; etiology ; therapy ; Retrospective Studies ; Stents

OBJECTIVES: To assess the clinical features, pathologic findings, postoperative results and the effects of immunosuppressive therapy in patients with Beh et's disease (BD). METHODS: We reviewed the postoperative course of the 9 BD patients who underwent a total of 17 aortic valve replacement procedures with prosthetic valves. RESULTS: Histological examination of the aortic valve commonly revealed diffuse myxoid degeneration (75 percent). Of 17 valve replacement surgeries, 13 surgeries resulted in complications, such as detachment of the prosthetic valve with perivalvular leakage and dehiscence of the sternotomy wound, within an average of 5 months (range from 1 month to 14 months). The rate of prosthetic valve detachment was 76 percent (13 of 17 surgeries). Four of the 9 patients (44 percent) who underwent aortic valve replacement procedures died of heart failure or infection associated with the detachment of the prosthetic valve, and perivalvular leakage within an average of 9 months. Aortic insufficiency associated with dehiscence of the prosthetic valve developed in 11 of 12 surgical cases (92 percent) with a mechanical valve and 2 of 5 surgical cases (40 percent) with tissue valves. Thirteen of 15 surgeries (87 percent) which were not given postoperative immunosuppressive therapy developed complications, while none of 2 surgeries that used postoperative immunosuppressive therapy with prednisolone (1 mg/kg/day) and azathioprine (100 mg/day) had these complications. CONCLUSION: The rates of prosthetic valve detachment in BD involving aortic valve were higher than those of other diseases. Aortic valve involvement was also one of the poor prognostic factors in BD. Intensive postoperative immunosuppressive therapy and surgical methods may be important factors for postoperative results.
Adult ; Aortic Valve/pathology ; Aortic Valve Insufficiency/*etiology/pathology ; Behcet Syndrome/*complications/drug therapy/pathology ; Female ; Heart Valve Diseases/*complications/pathology/surgery ; Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation/*mortality ; Human ; Immunosuppression ; Male ; Postoperative Complications ; Prosthesis Failure ; Survival Analysis

Gastrointestinal complications (GI) after thoracoabdominal aortic repair can be classified as biliary disease, heptic dysfunction, pancreatitis, GI bleeding, peptic ulcer disease, bowel ischemia, paralytic ileus, and aortoenteric fistula. Theses complications are associated with high post operative morbidity and mortality. Most of the aortoenteric fistulae after thoracoabdominal aortic surgery are found at the duodenum, near the surgical site. These rare complications are caused by an indirect communication with abdominal aorta that originated from an aneursymal formation ruptured into the duodenum. Such aorto-duodenal fistula formation is considered as a result of inflammatory change from secondary infection near the surgical instruments. Herein, we report two cases of massive upper GI bleeding from aorto-duodenal fistulae and spontaneous lower GI perforation related to cytomegalovirus infection after abdominal aortic aneurysmal repair operations.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Aorta, Abdominal/*surgery ; Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal/complications/*surgery ; Aortic Diseases/*diagnosis/surgery/virology ; Cytomegalovirus Infections/*complications/diagnosis/pathology ; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage/etiology ; Humans ; Intestinal Fistula/*diagnosis/surgery/virology ; Intestinal Perforation/*diagnosis/virology ; Male ; Vascular Fistula/*diagnosis/surgery/virology

Gastrointestinal complications (GI) after thoracoabdominal aortic repair can be classified as biliary disease, heptic dysfunction, pancreatitis, GI bleeding, peptic ulcer disease, bowel ischemia, paralytic ileus, and aortoenteric fistula. Theses complications are associated with high post operative morbidity and mortality. Most of the aortoenteric fistulae after thoracoabdominal aortic surgery are found at the duodenum, near the surgical site. These rare complications are caused by an indirect communication with abdominal aorta that originated from an aneursymal formation ruptured into the duodenum. Such aorto-duodenal fistula formation is considered as a result of inflammatory change from secondary infection near the surgical instruments. Herein, we report two cases of massive upper GI bleeding from aorto-duodenal fistulae and spontaneous lower GI perforation related to cytomegalovirus infection after abdominal aortic aneurysmal repair operations.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Aorta, Abdominal/*surgery ; Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal/complications/*surgery ; Aortic Diseases/*diagnosis/surgery/virology ; Cytomegalovirus Infections/*complications/diagnosis/pathology ; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage/etiology ; Humans ; Intestinal Fistula/*diagnosis/surgery/virology ; Intestinal Perforation/*diagnosis/virology ; Male ; Vascular Fistula/*diagnosis/surgery/virology