Aortobronchial fistula after endovascular stent graft repair of the thoracic aorta

Endovascular stent graft repair of descending thoracic aortic aneurysms has been recently introduced as an alternative to conventional graft replacement of the diseased aorta. As experience with this new technique accumulates, complications may occur. We herein report the case of a patient in whom we observed distal migration with leak of an endovascular stent graft previously inserted in the descending thoracic aorta, associated with an aortobronchial fistula. The urgent surgical treatment undertaken, which consisted of graft replacement of the previously stented aorta, had a fatal outcome. (C) 2000 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons.