Endovascular exclusion of aortoesophageal fistula after coarctation extraanatomical bypass.

Extraanatomical bypass has been advocated as the primary technique in adolescents or adults presenting with aortic coarctation. This approach carries significant morbidity, and graft-related complications may be more important in the young patient population. A 52-year-old man who had previously undergone extraanatomical bypass of aortic coarctation was diagnosed with a distal anastomotic pseudoaneurysm and aortoesophageal fistula. This was managed by proximal bypass plugging with an occluder, endovascular exclusion with a stent-graft in the thoracic descending aorta covering the pseudoaneurysm, and coarctation balloon dilation. Aortoesophageal fistula is a late complication observed after extraanatomical bypass for coarctation. This case illustrates this rare complication. (C) 2014 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons