Case Report
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World J Gastrointest Surg. Jun 27, 2014; 6(6): 117-121
Published online Jun 27, 2014. doi: 10.4240/wjgs.v6.i6.117
Repair of an aberrant subclavian arterioesophageal fistula following esophageal stent placement
Maen Aboul Hosn, Fady Haddad, Fadi El-Merhi, Bassem Safadi, Ali Hallal
Maen Aboul Hosn, Bassem Safadi, Ali Hallal, Division of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, American University of Beirut, Riad El-Solh, Beirut 1107 2020, Lebanon
Fady Haddad, Division of Vascular Surgery, Department of Surgery, American University of Beirut, Riad El-Solh, Beirut 1107 2020, Lebanon
Fadi El-Merhi, Department of Diagnostic Radiology, American University of Beirut, Riad El-Solh, Beirut 1107 2020, Lebanon
Author contributions: All authors actively participated in the design, drafting, revision and final approval of the manuscript prior to submission; Hosn MA and Safadi B did most of the literature review; Haddad F and El-Merhi F were involved in writing the manuscript and evaluating the relevance of the sources obtained; Hallal A did the manuscript editing and critical appraisal.
Correspondence to: Maen Aboul Hosn, Chief Resident, Division of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, American University of Beirut, P.O.Box 11-0236, Riad El-Solh, Beirut 1107 2020, Lebanon. ma198@aub.edu.lb
Telephone: +961-3-079863 Fax: +961-1-363291
Received: January 23, 2014
Revised: April 2, 2014
Accepted: May 29, 2014
Published online: June 27, 2014
Processing time: 178 Days and 16.7 Hours
Core Tip

Core tip: The use of esophageal covered stents to treat leaks following sleeve gastrectomy has increased significantly over the past years. However, their possible complications have not yet been fully explored. As demonstrated by our case report, the presence of an aberrant retroesophageal Subclavian artery can predispose to the formation of a fistula with the esophagus secondary to stent erosion, thereby leading to catastrophic hemorrhage and death. Our approach in this case was to start with stent angioplasty of the Subclavian artery followed by thoracotomy and esophageal repair over a T-tube and this approach proved successful in saving the patient’s life.