Aortoduodenal fistula following aortobifemoral bypass

Acta Chir Belg. 2005 Apr;105(2):207-9.

Abstract

A patient with a fistula between the aortic graft and the third portion of the duodenum was admitted in our institution and submitted to surgery that involved extra anatomical axillobifemoral bypass, prosthesis removal and bowel resection with a gastrojejunal Roux anastomosis. A prosthetic fistula after aortic surgery is a rare but potentially fatal complication. Erosion, infection and pseudoaneurysm are mechanisms in the pathogenesis of aortoenteric fistula. Because of the high mortality and morbidity, associated with secondary aortoenteric fistula, surgical treatment is always recommended. A combination of endoscopy and CT or MRI may offer the best chance of detecting a fistula, but the most important tool to achieve diagnosis is clinical suspicion. An aortoenteric fistula should always be suspected in all patients who have undergone aortic graft surgery and present with gastrointestinal haemorrhage. The authors discuss the modern management of this challenging complication of aortic surgery.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aorta, Abdominal / surgery
  • Aortic Diseases / diagnostic imaging
  • Aortic Diseases / etiology*
  • Aortic Diseases / surgery
  • Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation / adverse effects*
  • Duodenal Diseases / diagnostic imaging
  • Duodenal Diseases / etiology*
  • Duodenal Diseases / surgery
  • Femoral Artery / surgery
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / etiology
  • Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / surgery
  • Humans
  • Intestinal Fistula / diagnostic imaging
  • Intestinal Fistula / etiology*
  • Intestinal Fistula / surgery
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods
  • Male
  • Risk Assessment
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Vascular Fistula / diagnostic imaging
  • Vascular Fistula / etiology*
  • Vascular Fistula / surgery
  • Vascular Surgical Procedures / adverse effects*