Aortic arch replacement and autologous pericardial tracheal patch for an aorto‐tracheal fistula

Abstract

Aorto‐tracheal fistulas are rare and highly lethal, with few reports of successful surgical intervention. We present a 48‐year‐old man with an aorto‐tracheal fistula induced by radiation therapy for tracheal squamous cell carcinoma. He presented with hemoptysis and chest pain and workup revealed the aorta‐tracheal fistula between the posterior aortic arch and anterior distal trachea. He was emergently taken to surgery. To our knowledge, this is the first report of an aorto‐tracheal fistula successfully treated with a transverse aortic arch replacement and complex tracheal repair using autologous pericardium with an omental buttress.