Successful diagnosis and management of fistulas between the aorta and the tracheobronchial tree

The patient presented in this report is unique in that he survived two aortobronchial fistulas. With such fistulas, intermittent hemoptysis is always present; pain is an infrequent symptom. Plain roentgenograms of the chest are helpful in denoting the presence of an aneurysm and the affected portion of the tracheobronchial tree. Aortography rarely demonstrates the fistula. Bronchoscopy should be conducted only with care when the diagnosis is in doubt since disaster can attend disruption of the clot in the fistula. Successful repair usually requires maintenance of distal circulation, repair of the aorta either by closure or by graft replacement, and repair of the tracheobronchial tree either by resection or primary suture. Anesthesia management should include selective endobronchial intubation to control possible intraoperative hemorrhage. Interposition of healthy living tissue to protect the suture lines is encouraged to prevent recurrence.