Abstract
An unusual complication following colonic interposition for oesophageal atresia is described, where a fistula between an aberrant right subclavian artery and the colon graft caused severe haemorrhage. As in cases of aorto-oesophageal fistulae from foreign body ingestion, we experienced a ‘herald’-bleed before a second near-fatal event. In such cases, the clinical assumption should be that the source of bleeding is a major artery and appropriate resuscitation including preparations for immediate thoracotomy is required. Consideration should also be given to this potential complication when using the mediastinal route for an oesophageal replacement graft.
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Conflict of interest
This is to confirm that Drs. Rainer Kubiak, Martin Situma, Alp Numanoglu, Richard Wood, Andre Brooks and Professor Alastair J. W. Millar have no conflicts of interest or financial ties to disclose.
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Situma, M., Kubiak, R., Numanoglu, A. et al. Near-fatal bleeding from an aberrant subclavian artery following colonic interposition for oesophageal atresia. Pediatr Surg Int 27, 1131–1133 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00383-011-2881-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00383-011-2881-9