A word of caution: bilateral axillofemoral bypass could not provide sufficient blood flow in a patient who underwent aortic resection for aortoesophageal fistula: a case report

An 81-year-old man was transferred to our hospital for a ruptured infected descending aortic aneurysm. An emergency thoracic endovascular aortic repair was performed, but a computed tomography scan 7 days later revealed an aortoesophageal fistula. The establishment of extracorporeal circulation using the femoral artery and utilization of the omentum was considered difficult. We performed bilateral axillofemoral bypass followed by descending aortic resection and esophagectomy. However, the patient’s circulatory insufficiency worsened, and he died on the 18th postoperative day. In the treatment of aortoesophageal fistula, bilateral axillofemoral bypass is not recommended as an alternative to descending aortic replacement.