Gastrocardiac Fistula as a Complication of Prior Bariatric Surgery

Am Surg. 2021 Oct 20:31348211047495. doi: 10.1177/00031348211047495. Online ahead of print.

Abstract

Gastrocardiac fistula is a rare, typically fatal, diagnosis which has been reported infrequently in post-esophagectomy patients and, to a much lesser extent, patients with history of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. This case describes a patient with a history of an eroded adjustable gastric band and subsequent removal with conversion to Roux-en-Y gastric bypass that initially presented with an upper gastrointestinal bleed. She was found to have a transdiaphragmatic fistula between the gastric lumen and left ventricle.

Keywords: bariatrics; cardiac; obesity; thoracic surgery.