Successful Surgical Therapy of a Chronically Infected Thoracic Fistula After Repeated Cardiovascular High‐Risk Procedures

Thierfelder, Nikolaus; Riedlinger, Eva; Mert, Sinan; Fuchs, Benedikt; Möllhoff, Nicholas; Wachtel, Nikolaus ; Schneider, Christian; Peterß, Sven; Giunta, Riccardo; Vollbach, Felix Hubertus (2025): Successful Surgical Therapy of a Chronically Infected Thoracic Fistula After Repeated Cardiovascular High‐Risk Procedures. Clinical Case Reports, 13 (11): e71507. ISSN 2050-0904

Abstract

Chronic thoracic fistulas after transapical TAVI are rare but serious complications. A 67-year-old male with prior aortic dissection and two transapical valve implantations developed a chronically infected fistula due to retained apical closure material. Multidisciplinary surgery with complete removal of infected tissue, staged debridement, vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) therapy, and targeted antibiotics achieved infection control and successful wound reconstruction using local flaps. The patient recovered uneventfully. Complete foreign material removal and interdisciplinary management are crucial for durable healing in high-risk posttransapical TAVI patients.

• Doc-Type: Article (LMU Hospital)
• Organisational unit (Faculties): 07 Medicine > Medical Center of the University of Munich > Clinic for General, Visceral, Vascular and Transplant Surgery
• DFG subject classification of scientific disciplines: Life sciences
• DFG: Funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) - 491502892