Lethal aorto-oesophageal fistula – Characteristic features and aetiology

dc.contributor.authorByard, R.
dc.date.issued2013
dc.description.abstractAorto-oesophageal fistula refers to a rarely encountered communication between the aorta and the oesophagus that results in massive and lethal haemorrhage into the upper gastrointestinal tract. Although the time between the initial haemorrhage and the terminal event may be days, a clinical diagnosis may not be established by the time of autopsy. A fistulous tract develops between the aorta and the oesophagus most commonly due to expansion of a thoracic aortic aneurysm or from an ingested foreign body. Less common causes include infiltrating neoplasms, oesophageal ulceration, vascular rings and iatrogenic lesions. Three cases are presented to illustrate the features of such cases due to aortic dissection, bronchial carcinoma and tuberculosis. Cases should be suspected if there has been a history of midthoracic pain or dysphagia, a 'herald' haemorrhage and then massive fatal haematemesis with bright red blood. Careful dissection at autopsy is required to demonstrate the site of the fistulous tract.
dc.description.statementofresponsibilityRoger W. Byard
dc.identifier.citationJournal of Clinical Forensic and Legal Medicine: an international journal of forensic and legal medicine, 2013; 20(3):164-168
dc.identifier.doi10.1016/j.jflm.2012.06.008
dc.identifier.issn1752-928X
dc.identifier.issn1878-7487
dc.identifier.orcidByard, R. [0000-0002-0524-5942]
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2440/76062
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherChurchill Livingstone
dc.rightsCopyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd and Faculty of Forensic and Legal Medicine. All rights reserved.
dc.source.urihttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.jflm.2012.06.008
dc.subjectAorto-oesophageal fistula
dc.subjectHaematemesis
dc.subjectAortic aneurysm
dc.subjectOesophageal carcinoma
dc.subjectBronchial carcinoma
dc.subjectTuberculosis
dc.titleLethal aorto-oesophageal fistula – Characteristic features and aetiology
dc.typeJournal article
pubs.publication-statusPublished

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