The authors have no funding, financial relationships, or conflicts of interest to disclose.
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General Otolaryngology
Diagnosis and treatment of 32 cases with aortoesophageal fistula due to esophageal foreign body†
Article first published online: 13 JAN 2011
DOI: 10.1002/lary.21366
Copyright © 2011 The American Laryngological, Rhinological, and Otological Society, Inc.
Additional Information
How to Cite
Zhang, X., Liu, J., Li, J., Hu, J., Yu, F., Li, S. and Yang, X. (2011), Diagnosis and treatment of 32 cases with aortoesophageal fistula due to esophageal foreign body. The Laryngoscope, 121: 267–272. doi: 10.1002/lary.21366
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Publication History
- Issue published online: 26 JAN 2011
- Article first published online: 13 JAN 2011
- Manuscript Accepted: 21 SEP 2010
- Manuscript Received: 9 JUN 2010
- Abstract
- Article
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- Cited By
Keywords:
- Esophageal foreign body;
- aortic disease;
- aortoesophageal fistula;
- Level of Evidence: 4
Abstract
Objectives/Hypothesis:
Aortoesophageal fistula is a rare but life-threatening complication of foreign body ingestion. In spite of several strategies for treatment, there is little consensus regarding the optimal management of the entity. In this article, we present our experience in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with aortoesophageal fistula.
Study Design:
Retrospective study.
Methods:
A total of 3,209 admissions due to esophageal foreign body impaction were recorded in Second Xiangya Hospital between 1963 and 2010. Of these, 32 cases were complicated with aortoesophageal fistula. In these 32 patients, 19 were treated by open surgery and 13 were managed with nonsurgical measures. We compared different treatments of the patients and their clinical outcomes.
Results:
Foreign body and aortoesophageal fistula were found in all of these 32 cases in imaging examination and/or surgery. Three patients were completely cured and 16 patients died of fatal hemorrhage from the group of patients with surgical management. All 13 nonsurgically treated cases died.
Conclusions:
Early diagnosis and an aggressive surgical treatment without delay is the only form of effective therapy for the condition of aortoesophageal fistula. Imaging examination is helpful in diagnosis. In particular, three-dimensional computerized tomography is a safe, simple, and noninvasive examination method that has high sensitivity and specificity for the early diagnosis of aortoesophageal fistula.