Thoracic aortic aneurysm causing aorto-esophageal fistula—our experience with a rare disease

Aorto-esophageal fistula is a life-threatening condition, accounting for a small number of cases of upper gastrointestinal bleeding where patients present with one or more features of Chiari’s triad. We present the case of a 43-year-old woman, referred to us with symptoms of central chest pain, sudden onset dysphagia followed by massive hemoptysis. She was diagnosed with an aorto-esophageal fistula due to a ruptured thoracic aortic aneurysm and rushed for an emergency endovascular thoracic aortic stent and feeding jejunostomy with intravenous antibiotics and supportive care. After 6 weeks of surgery, the patient was re-evaluated to plan for an esophageal stent if required. The purpose of this presentation is to make the surgical fraternity aware of the gravity of this disease and novel techniques to manage it.