Fatal aortoesophageal fistula due to double aortic arch: an unusual complication of prolonged nasogastric intubation.

Fatal hematemesis occurred in a 3-month-old boy due to erosion by a nasogastric tube into the right component of an unrecognized double aortic arch. This is the youngest of six reported patients with arterioesophageal fistula in the literature. Including this patient, five of six had nasogastric tubes in place. The tube may have led to fistula formation by compression of the esophageal wall against an anomalous vessel. When a vascular ring is suspected, indwelling esophageal tubes such as nasogastric tubes should not be used.