Fistula between subclavian arterial graft and oesophagus

Abstract

This is the first reported case of an oesophageal fistula arising from a subclavian arterial graft. A 28 year-old woman presented with massive haematemesis in severe haemorrhagic shock, three months after surgery to detach and relocate an aberrant right subclavian artery. Acutely, she was haemodynamically unstable and required transfusion of 45. units of blood. The fistula was identified with angiography (via the right brachial artery) after endoscopic and open visualisation were unsuccessful because of the torrential haemorrhage. The patient was stabilised and the fistula was managed with an endovascular covered stent. She had further surgery subsequently to remove the infected graft and to salvage the right arm. © 2012 Australian and New Zealand Society of Cardiac and Thoracic Surgeons (ANZSCTS) and the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand (CSANZ).