A Case of Tracheo-innominate Artery Fistula after Tracheostomy Successfully Treated with a Covered Stent

Abstract

A 78-year-old man underwent a tracheostomy after embolization for a dural arteriovenous fistula. Seventy days after tracheostomy, arterial bleeding appeared through the tracheal stoma. The bleeding stopped spontaneously. However, two days later, arterial bleeding reappeared, and he was diagnosed with a tracheo-innominate artery fistula (TIF). He then underwent urgent endovascular covered stent placement. After the procedure, there was no bleeding. TIF can be a fatal complication after tracheostomy and it is generally treated with open chest surgery. However, a successful endovascular treatment for TIF has recently been reported and may yield better results.