Surgical repair of an aneurysm of the innominate artery with fistulizationinto the trachea

This report describes a 43-year-old patient presenting with an aneurysm loc ated at the junction between the innominate artery and aorta, with spontane ous fistulization into the trachea. Emergency treatment of this unusually l ocated lesion was undertaken to prevent intratracheal rupture. After ligati on of the innominate artery, right common carotid artery, and right subclav ian artery due to the risk of infection, the tracheal fistula was treated b y direct closure and exclusion using an autologous pericardial flap. The pr ocedure was performed under extracorporeal circulation and circulatory arre st with profound hypothermia.