Thoracic aortic aneurysm is a serious vascular disease which usually requires surgical aortic graft replacement. In recent years, endovascular stent placement proved a mini-invasive alternative to be used safely in properly selected instances particularly in subjects considered at prohibitive risk for surgery due to advanced age or multiple comorbidity.

Unfortunately, in large thoracic aortic aneurysms, which have been previously treated by endovascular stenting, compression of esophagus and/or of the trachea can develop as rare and as yet lifethreatening complications due to progressive enlargement of the aneurysm walls. In particular, compression of the esophagus can eventually lead to esophageal obstruction and oesophageal perforation causing mediastinal infection and potentially evolving in an aorto-oesophageal fistula which has been reported to occur in 1.7%–5% of thoracic endovascular aortic repair patients, and which represent a frequently fatal complication also in experienced center.

Fig. 1. Left: pre-operative barium esophagogram showing abrupt interruption of the contrast medium with dilation of the proximal eophageal tract (red arrows).
Right: post-operative barium esophagogram showing free passage of the contrast medium throughout the esophageal lumen (red arrows).

Common symptoms are not specific including dysphagia, chest pain, and weight loss which can be easily mistaken for other diagnosis. Barium swallow can be useful revealing an extrinsic compression/obstruction of the thoracic esophagus. Usually esophagoscopy does not add further significant details and its avoidance eliminate risks of iatrogenic oesophageal perforation. Overall, the definitive diagnostic tool is computed tomographic (CT) scan, which clearly depicts the morphologic characteristics and extension of the thoracic aortic aneurysm as well as the compression of the esophagus.

An early diagnosis is thus fundamental but can be jeopardized by the paucity of symptoms in the early stages.

We believe that early detection, multidisciplinary approach and prompt surgical treatment plays a key role on patient’s survival although according to previous literature reports, aggressive surgical management, including radical oesophagectomy, aortic replacement and greater omentum wrapping may not achieve satisfactory outcomes and can be associated with prohibitive mortality rates.

We have recently reported on a 71 year old man with multiple comorbidities and a history of thoracic aortic aneurysm, which was previously managed by endovascular stenting and who was admitted at our centre due to progressive deterioration of dysphagia and weight loss in the last 13 months. A chest CT showed an aneurysm extending from the aortic arch to the descending thoracic aorta with no evidence of endoleak and compressing the thoracic esophagus below the tracheal bifurcation (Fig. 1). A barium esophagogram was also carried out and showed an abrupt interruption of the contrast medium at the level of the of the aneurysm with dilation of the esophageal lumen above the obstruction and no signs of esophageal perforation (Fig. 2).

Since the patient was considered at high surgical risk at a multidisciplinary preoperative assessment we decided to try to avoid esophagectomy and make all attempts at preserving the native esophagus and perform a novel surgical procedure denominated sliding esophagoplasty. The operation was aimed at re-routing the esophagus aside from the thoracic aortic aneurysm.

Fig. 2. Left upper: pre-operative chest computed tomography axial image showing esophageal dilation above the level of the esophageal obstruction.
Left bottom: pre-operative chest computed tomography axial image showing esophageal wall compression by a huge thoracic aneurysm (red arrows) with endovascular stent in position.
Right: post-operative chest computed tomography axial images showing esophageal wall placed aside from huge thoracic aneurysm (red arrows) at a higher (upper) and lower (bottom) thoracic level.

Preoperative parenteral nutrition for 2 weeks was set-up to improve the patient’s nutritional status. At the operation, a left posterolateral thoracotomy was carried out in the sixth intercostal space, a pedicled intercostals muscle flap was prepared to eventually reinforce the esophageal wall. During isolation of the compressed esophageal carried out both below and above the compressed esophageal tract, we have found a covered perforation probably due to limited oesophageal wall necrosis which was repaired by suture and subsequent reinforcement of the involved esophageal wall by the previously prepared intercostal muscle flap.

The postoperative course was uneventful and postoperatively barium swallow showed the satisfactory restored passage of the contrast medium through the full length of the esophagus without leakage (Fig. 1, 2). The patient was thus allowed to eat and rapidly discharged from the hospital. Six months later he could eat satisfactorily and had gained 8 kg in weight.

In conclusion, we believe this novel surgical technique can be taken into account as a relatively safe and effective surgical method to be used in such rare high-risk patients.

Eugenio Pompeo¹,Ahmed Elkhouly²,Andrea Ascoli Marchetti³,Arnaldo Ippoliti³
Department of¹Thoracic and³Vascular Surgery, Policlinico Tor Vergata University, Rome, Italy
²Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt

Publication

滑动食管成形术在食管到水果ruction after endovascular stent grafting of thoracic aortic aneurysm.
Pompeo E, Elkhouly A, Ascoli Marchetti A, Ippoliti A
J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2018 Jul

Read offline:

Related Articles:

	The minimally invasive and percutaneous ways: A tale of two…在过去的几十年里,先进的药导致large increases in life-expectancy, a fact most are grateful for. However, accompanying this boost in longevity we also find a rise…
	Nickel free, built-in nanotubular drug eluting stentsCoronary Artery Disease is a common cause of heart failure. Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) is caused by the accumulation of lipids and fats within an injured arteries’ walls and restricts…
	Can SEM/EDX analysis be useful in prosecution of medical…Forgetting surgical gauzes within a patient’s body after surgery is a serious matter but also sadly known to the newspapers. The retained gauzes may cause severe inflammatory reactions and numerous…
	The stress of dieting: what a rat model may tell us about…In the United States, obesity and concomitant diseases such as hypertension and diabetes have soared in older adults—and obesity is especially pronounced in women after menopause. Numerous strategies are used…
	Reprogramming skin into brain to study aging and age-related…“Inevitable as the passing of time” is a common phrase and a simple truth; in our lives, we may have impactful experiences, grow and learn but, inescapably, we age. It…
	Stimulating nursing students’ interest in community care…Despite increased healthcare extramuralisation, related to increased elderly patients living at home, most nursing students still see the hospital as career favourite. This is problematic, because of the widespread labour-market…