Case report: Aortoduodenal fistula presenting as iron-deficiency anaemia

Aortoenteric fistulae are a rare cause of gastrointestinal bleeding. If undiagnosed, mortality is high. The outcome of aortoenteric fistula has improved significantly due to better diagnostic modalities, advances in anaesthesia and surgical techniques including endovascular aortic repair. Early diagnosis requires a high index of clinical suspicion. An aortoenteric fistula should be suspected in every patient with a history of surgical or endovascular repair of aortic disease who presents with gastrointestinal bleeding. Most patients present with massive gastrointestinal bleeding. Presentation with iron-deficiency anaemia on routine blood analysis, as in our case report, is extremely unusual.     

Primary aortoduodenal fistula:A case report

Primary abdominoaortic fistula is an extremely rare cause of upper gastrointestinal(GI)bleeding.The diagnosis is frequently delayed due to the rarity of the disease and low index of suspicion by physicians.A range of invasive and non-invasive diagnostic tools are available,but helical computer tomography(CT) remains the mainstay.Surgery offers the only hope for survival.This case report presents a 47-year-old male with massive upper GI bleeding.Various diagnostic tests and an exploratory laparotomy failed to identify the diagnosis.Later,a primary aortoduodenal fistula was confirmed by CT scan which necessitated surgical repair of the fistula and a Goretex graft for the abdominal aortic aneurysm.The patient made an uneventful recovery and remained well to the first postoperative visit in the clinic 2 wk after surgery.     

Aortoduodenal fistula as a cause of gastrointestinal bleeding--difficulties in endoscopic diagnosis

We report on three patients with severe gastrointestinal bleeding arising from aortoenteric fistula. Two patients presented with a secondary aortoduodenal fistula. In the first case bleeding occurred 8 months after aortobifemoral graft implantation. In the second patient aortobiliacal graft implantation was performed 22 years before. In the third case the aortoenteric fistula was primary and was caused by an abdominal aortic aneurysm without prior vascular intervention. In the first case diagnosis was made by urgent endoscopy visualizing ongoing bleeding from the duodenal fistula. In the two other patients urgent endoscopy and CT as well could not demonstrate the bleeding source. Aortoenteric fistula was diagnosed endoscopically during severe rebleeding some hours later. Two patients underwent surgery with implantation of an axillobifemoral bypass; the third patient declined further intervention and died. The course shows that aortoduodenal fistula can present with severe but intermittent gastrointestinal bleeding making the diagnosis in the non-bleeding interval difficult. In patients with severe gastrointestinal bleeding and a history of aortic disease (aneurysm, prior aortic graft repair or stenting) an aortoduodenal fistula should be suspected and the indication for surgical intervention should be considered early in spite of negative results of endoscopy and CT.     

Upper gastrointestinal bleeding secondary to an aberrant right subclavian artery-esophageal fistula: a case report and review of the literature.

An aberrant right subclavian artery (ARSA) is a common aortic arch abnormality. A case of a 57-year-old man presenting with melena and hypotension secondary to an ARSA-esophageal fistula is reported. The current report is unique because it is the first reported case of ARSA-esophageal fistula associated with prior esophagectomy and gastric pull-up. A MedLine search was performed for ARSA-esophageal fistula cases, which were then compared with the present case. Because this patient had no vascular conduits, nasogastric or endotracheal tubes, the fistula likely occurred secondary to the previous surgery. This case is unusual because the patient survived the original hemorrhage associated with the ARSA-esophageal fistula. An ARSA-esophageal fistula is a rare, but potentially fatal cause of upper gastrointestinal bleeding. A high index of suspicion is needed to make the diagnosis. This condition should be considered in patients with risk factors combined with hemodynamically significant gastrointestinal bleeding.     

Enigma of primary aortoduodenal fistula

A diagnosis of primary aortoenteric fistula is difficult to make despite a high level of clinical suspicion. It should be considered in any elderly patient who presents with upper gastrointestinal bleeding in the context of a known abdominal aortic aneurysm. We present the case of young man with no history of abdominal aortic aneurysm who presented with massive upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Initial misdiagnosis led to a delay in treatment and the patient succumbing to the illness. This case is unique in that the fistula formed as a result of complex atherosclerotic disease of the abdominal aorta, and not from an aneurysm.     

Aorto-digestive fistula and aortic prosthesis. Report of four cases

The diagnosis of gastrointestinal bleeding secondary to aortoduodenal fistula and the decision to proceed to an early diagnostic and/or therapeutic laparotomy are often difficult in practice. We report 4 cases of patients with aortic prostheses who were hospitalized for gastrointestinal bleeding secondary to aortoduodenal fistula. All of them presented initially with lightheadedness before evidence of GI bleeding. Emergency esophagogastroduodenoscopy performed for 3 patients was normal for 2 of them and showed an ulcer with a stitch at its center in the third duodenum for the other. Abdominal CT scan performed for all the patients confirmed the diagnosis for only one case. Of the 3 patients with a normal CT scan, 2 underwent angiography which provided the diagnosis of aortoenteric fistula successfully treated by embolization. The other angiogram was normal. Surgery was required to establish the diagnosis in one patient and diagnosis was post mortem for the last one.     

Rectal arterio-portal fistula: An unusual cause of persistent bleeding per rectum following a proximal spleno-renal shunt

Gastrointestinal arterio-venous malformations are a known cause of gastrointestinal bleeding. We present a rare case of persistent rectal bleeding due to a rectal arterio-portal venous fistula in the setting of portal hypertension secondary to portal vein thrombosis. The portal hypertension was initially surgically treated with splenectomy and a proximal splenorenal shunt. However, rectal bleeding persisted even after surgery, presenting us with a diagnostic dilemma. The patient was re-evaluated with a computed tomography mesenteric angiogram which revealed a rectal arterio-portal fistula. Arterio-portal fistulas are a known but rare cause of portal hypertension, and possibly the underlying cause of continued rectal bleeding in this case. This was successfully treated using angiographic localizationand super-selective embolization of the rectal arterioportal venous fistula via the right internal iliac artery. The patient subsequently went on to have a full term pregnancy. Through this case report, we hope to high-light awareness of this unusual condition, discuss the diagnostic workup and our management approach.     

Lower intestinal bleeding due to aorto-enteric fistula

The case is described of a man who complained of intermittent fever and fatigue. After three digestive endoscopies and computed tomography, a 99m technetium-HM-PAO-labelled white cell scan was usefully employed to establish diagnosis. Anaerobic aortic Graft infection and anaemia due to lower intermittent occult intestinal bleeding were found. The intestinal bleeding was caused by secondary aorto-jejunal fistula. This condition is rare, but should be suspected whenever a patient with aortic prosthesis presents with occult digestive bleeding and unexplained fever.     

Primary aortoduodenal fistula: Pitfalls and success in the endoscopic diagnosis

Primary aortoenteric fistula is a rare but catastrophic cause of gastrointestinal bleeding. The diagnosis of primary aortoenteric fistula is difficult to make and is usually accompanied by a very high level of clinical suspicion. It should be considered in any elderly patient presenting with upper gastrointestinal bleeding in the context of a known abdominal aortic aneurysm. Prompt surgical intervention is necessary. We present the case of a 78-year-old man with a history of atherosclerotic abdominal aortic aneurysm which is presented with massive upper gastrointestinal bleeding due to a primary aortoduodenal fistula. Initial misdiagnosis led to a delay in treatment and the patient succumbed to the illness.     

Recurrent upper gastrointestinal bleeding in a 61 year-old man with infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm

A 61-year-old man was admitted to hospital due to recurrent upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Four weeks ago, he had been treated with epinephrine and endoclips by endoscopy due to an arterial gastrointestinal bleeding. The patient had a history of coronary and peripheral artery disease, diabetes, and an abdominal aortic aneurysm. Urgent endoscopy suggested the presence of an ulcus Dieulafoy but no definitive bleeding source could be seen. Due to ongoing melena an abdominal computer tomography was performed and a primary aortoduodenal fistula was suspected caused by the infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm. Laparatomy was undertaken emergently and an aortoduodenal fistula was found in the descending part of the duodenum. Repair of the duodenal rent was performed and the aortic aneurysm was replaced by a Dacron prosthesis. The patient was transferred to the intensive care unit. 4 days after initial admission, he died due to septic shock.     

Rezidivierende obere gastrointestinale Blutungen bei einem 61-jährigen Patienten mit infrarenalem Bauchaortenaneurysma

A 61-year-old man was admitted to hospital due to recurrent upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Four weeks ago, he had been treated with epinephrine and endoclips by endoscopy due to an arterial gastrointestinal bleeding. The patient had a history of coronary and peripheral artery disease, diabetes, and an abdominal aortic aneurysm. Urgent endoscopy suggested the presence of an ulcus Dieulafoy but no definitive bleeding source could be seen. Due to ongoing melena an abdominal computer tomography was performed and a primary aortoduodenal fistula was suspected caused by the infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm. Laparatomy was undertaken emergently and an aortoduodenal fistula was found in the descending part of the duodenum. Repair of the duodenal rent was performed and the aortic aneurysm was replaced by a Dacron prosthesis. The patient was transferred to the intensive care unit. 4 days after initial admission, he died due to septic shock.     

Primary aortojejunal fistula due to foreign body: a rare cause of gastrointestinal bleeding

Primary and secondary aortoenteric fistulae are infrequent causes of gastrointestinal bleeding. We report a rare case of a 49-year-old man with bleeding due to an aortojejunal fistula caused by a foreign body. This is the fifth case in the literature in which a foreign body was found to be associated with the development of an aortoenteric fistula. Our patient presented with two herald bleeds with an interval time of 1 week; in previous cases, only one herald bleed has been reported. In addition to the usual resuscitation measures, the patient was treated with primary repair of the small-intestine defect and replacement of the aneurysm with a prosthetic aortic graft. He remains in excellent health thereafter.     

Primary aortoenteric fistula: a rare cause of gastrointestinal bleeding in young adults

Aortoenteric fistula is defined as a communication between the native aorta and any portion of the gastrointestinal tract. Depending on previous aortic grafting it can be classified as primary, without previous grafting, or secondary. Primary aortoenteric fistula is less frequent and usually arises from an abdominal aortic aneurysm. Clinical presentation is usually gastrointestinal bleeding. The main diagnostic procedures are gastroscopy and computed tomography. We report the case of a 46-year-old man who presented to the emergency room with gastrointestinal bleeding and an abdominal pulsatile mass. Although complementary tests and clinical signs suggested a diagnosis of primary aortoenteric fistula, the communication was not observed on gastroscopy and was confirmed by exploratory laparotomy. Despite aggressive surgical treatment, the prognosis of this entity is poor.     

Dysphagia aortica: A neglected symptom of aortoesophageal fistula

Aortoesophageal fistula, secondary to thoracic aortic aneurysm, is an uncommon cause of gastrointestinal bleeding that is uniformly fatal without surgical intervention. Typical symptoms are midthoracic pain and/or dysphagia followed by a usually short, albeit unpredictable, symptom-free interval and by a 'herald' haemorrhage, which is observed in 80% of patients before fatal exsanguinations. Dysphagia is present in 45% of patients, sometimes for several weeks, before the first bleeding occurs. However, dysphagia aortica is rarely considered in the differential diagnosis of dysphagia and lack of awareness, as well as symptom's underevaluation, both contribute to a significant diagnostic and therapeutic delay. We present a case of a 77-year-old woman who died for a bleeding AEF consequent to a thoracic aortic aneurysm and whose main symptom during the past 2 months was dysphagia, which was not taken seriously into consideration by her general practitioner. This case report emphasises that primary care physicians should be alerted to evaluate carefully the alarming symptoms like dysphagia -- especially in elderly patients -- before life threatening complications occur, as they are the ones who could suspect early the diagnosis and make a proper referral.     

Aortoenteric fistula. A complication of renal artery bypass graft.

The incidence of gastrointestinal bleeding secondary to aortoenteric fistula has increased in recent years consequent to more frequent aortic reconstructive procedures. It is necessary to approach any such patient with this diagnostic consideration in mind, since early specific therapy may decrease the mortality. In this setting, there is usually sufficient time available to perform definitive tests to establish the correct diagnosis. We report a 37-year-old patient in whom aortoenteric fistula developed following a renal artery bypass graft.     

Emergency endovascular repair of an aortoesophageal fistula caused by a foreign body.

PURPOSE: To report stent-graft treatment of an aortoesophageal fistula caused by a foreign body. CASE REPORT: A 32-year-old man was admitted with massive upper gastrointestinal bleeding 10 days after swallowing a fish bone. Computed tomography demonstrated a fistula from the proximal descending thoracic aorta to the mid esophagus. The bleeding was initially controlled by inflating a Sengstaken-Blakemore tube. A 28-mm x 16-cm Talent stent-graft was delivered transfemorally to repair the aortic defect; the esophageal injury was repaired primarily using a pedicled intercostal muscle flap via a right thoracotomy. Chest radiography at 12 months showed no migration of the stent-graft. Blood parameters of infection were normal; the patient remains well 18 months after stent-graft implantation. CONCLUSIONS: This case illustrates stent-graft treatment of a life-threatening hemorrhage from an aortoesophageal fistula.     

AORTO‐DUODENAL FISTULA: MULTIDETECTOR COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY AND GASTRODUODENOSCOPY FINDINGS OF A RARE CAUSE OF UPPER GASTROINTESTINAL HEMORRHAGE

An aorto‐enteric fistula is a serious complication of abdominal aortic aneurysm. Acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding may be a life‐threatening condition that calls for immediate diagnosis and action. Morbidity and mortality remain high despite progress in diagnosis and therapeutic procedures. In the literature, the aorto‐enteric fistula diagnostic suspicion by multidetector computed tomography scan is assumed on the basis of the interruption of the aortic wall, with the presence of duodenal gas situated to tightened contact with the aorta. We report a patient with an aorto‐duodenal fistula associated with inflammatory abdominal aortic aneurysm detected by gastro‐duodenoscopy and multidetector computed tomography scan, with gas found in the lumen of the abdominal aorta, between the aneurysm wall and the thrombus.     

Secondary aortoduodenal fistula. Rare endoscopic finding in the course of digestive hemorrhage

Secondary aortoduodenal fistula is a rare and life-threatening long-term complication of abdominal aortic surgery. Pathogenesis is often not clear; both mechanical trauma and septic procedures are involved as principal factors. The interval between first intervention and development of the fistula can vary from months to years. The presentation is often subtle with a herald bleeding followed by a period of grace, followed or not by an exsanguinating hemorrhage. The right diagnosis of aortoduodenal fistula hemorrhage can be difficult. We emphasize the need to have an early and correct diagnosis in one with differential diagnosis of patients with gastrointestinal bleeding after previous abdominal aortic replacement surgery. The esophagogastroduodenoscopy (until the Treitz) is the main diagnostic procedure, able to demonstrate the fistula and rule out other possible causes of bleeding.     

Portal hypertension secondary to arterioportal fistulae: two unusual cases

Abstract: A 62-year-old male presented with variceal haemorrhage. Investigation demonstrated a fistula between the left gastric artery and portal vein with a porto-systemic gradient of 35 mm Hg. Variceal bleeding was controlled by a transcatheter embolisation of the fistula, but the patient died of septicaemia three weeks later. The second patient, a 42-year-old male who presented with variceal bleeding was shown to have diffuse arterio-venous fistulae involving the right lobe of the liver with a portosystemic gradient of 25 mm Hg. In this case the variceal bleeding was successfully controlled by insertion of a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS). The pathogenesis of portal hypertension in arterioportal fistulae and the role of interventional radiological techniques in the management of variceal bleeding in these patients is discussed.     

Aortoesophageal fistula of uncommon origin: perforation of a Barrett''s ulcer

Aortoesophageal fistulas are life-threatening conditions of which over half are secondary to thoracic aortic aneurysms. Four cases related to perforation of a Barrett's ulcer have been described so far, accounting for less than 1% of published aortoesophageal fistulas. We report a fifth case, which presented with severe hypotension, anemia and hematemesis. The patient underwent emergency esophagectomy and aortic closure but postoperatively required aortic endoprosthesis for residual bleeding. This case highlights the great diagnostic and therapeutic challenge associated with perforated Barrett's ulcer.