Aortoesophageal fistula (AEF) is a relatively rare and potentially fatal disease. Secondary AEF is rare but is associated with serious complications and high mortality. There are rare cases of esophageal mediastinal fistula after descending aortic aneurysm stent implantation. We report the case of a 76-year-old man who had upper abdominal distension, without obvious inducement, for 3 months and felt fullness after a meal, accompanied by anorexia. A chest computer tomography (CT) examination of the abdomen was performed with the outside hospital. Descending thoracic aortic aneurysm was discovered and was treated with stent implantation. The patient was transferred to our hospital to continue treatment, mainly because of an esophageal mediastinal fistula. Finally, the thoracic aortic aneurysm was diagnosed as AEF after stent implantation, combined with the diagnosis of upper gastrointestinal bleeding. We hope that, through this case, we can explain the possible causes of bronchial mediastinal fistula after stent implantation of descending aortic aneurysm and the mechanism of upper gastrointestinal bleeding.
Keywords: aortoesophageal fistula; thoracic aortic aneurysm; thoracic endovascular aortic repair; upper gastrointestinal bleeding.