Aortoesophageal fistula: alternatives of treatment case report and literature review.

Aortoesophageal fistula (AEF) remains as a life-threatening condition with a high rate of morbidity and mortality. It is usually related to aortic or esophageal disease, and less commonly foreign body ingestion. In spite of several strategies for treatment, there is little consensus regarding the optimal management of this entity. In this paper, we present our experience in successfully managing one patient with AEF by performing open surgical repair. We also include a discussion on criteria for selecting the most appropriate alternative of treatment: open or endovascular repair, based on a review of the literature currently available in MEDLINE.