# Esophageal Management of an Aortoesophageal Fistula

## TL;DR

This paper discusses the rare and deadly condition of aortoesophageal fistula and the challenges in managing it through a case study of a 49-year-old woman.

## Contribution

The paper contributes a case report highlighting the difficulties in treating aortoesophageal fistula with esophageal stenting and eventual surgical intervention.

## Key findings

- Aortoesophageal fistula is rare and associated with high mortality.
- Esophageal stenting was unsuccessful in this case, requiring cervical esophagectomy.
- The management of this condition lacks a clear gold standard due to its low incidence.

## Abstract

Aortoesophageal fistula, the formation of a tract between the aorta and esophagus, is rare and associated with a high mortality rate. We present a 49-year-old woman with an extensive type B aortic dissection found to have a tract between the esophagus and aortic false lumen. Multiple attempts at esophageal stenting were unsuccessful, with subsequent cervical esophagectomy required. Despite the lethal nature of this condition, the gold standard of management is unclear as studies are limited by a low incidence rate.