Primary aortoesophageal fistula: A fatal outcome

Abstract

Aortoesophageal fistula is a rare but life-threatening cause of massive gastrointestinal bleeding. We reported a case of primary aortoesophageal fistula associated with thoracic aortic pseudoaneurysm. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy demonstrated a bulging erosive lesion coated with fibrin. The patient was therefore diagnosed as malignant esophageal mesenchymoma initially. An emergency contrast-enhanced computed tomography revealed an out-pouching saccular aneurysm protruding toward the esophagus at the level of T8-9. The patient expired rapidly due to intractable massive bleeding. Assumptive diagnosis of esophageal malignancy leads to a loss of the most optimal time-point for operation thus negatively affecting the patient survival.

Keywords: Aortoesophageal fistula; Fatal outcome; Massive gastrointestinal bleeding.