Endovascular Management of Bleeding Aortoenteric Fistula May be Feasible as a Definitive Repair

Fatal Hemorrhage Due to Aorto-Enteric Fistula: A Case Report

The abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a vascular condition that commonly affects individuals over the age of 65, leading to complications such as rupture, thrombosis, and embolization that can result in significant morbidity and mortality. Aorto-enteric fistula (AEF), a rare but life-threatening complication of abdominal aortic aneurysms, occurs when there is communication between the aneurysm and adjacent bowel loops. A 63-year-old man presented to the emergency department (ED) with severe abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and dark, tarry stools. Prior to his current presentation, the patient sought medical care from several primary care centers for vague abdominal pain that was diagnosed as dyspepsia, and he was prescribed omeprazole. During the current presentation, the patient had hemodynamic instability and a diffusely tender abdomen. Subsequently, a computed tomography (CT) scan revealed an abdominal aortic aneurysm with AEF. Although the patient underwent exploratory laparotomy, he suffered cardiac arrest and ultimately died in the operating room. This case underscores the importance of early recognition and management of AEF, which is crucial for improving patient outcomes.

Treatment of Secondary Aortoenteric Fistulas Following AORTIC Aneurysm Repair in a Tertiary Reference Center

Objectives: To present our experience with various therapeutic approaches for the treatment of secondary aortoenteric fistulas following open and endovascular aortic aneurysm repair. Methods and Materials: A retrospective data analysis of patients treated for secondary aortoenteric fistulas in a single vascular institution between January 2005 and December 2018 was performed. Analyzed parameters included patients’ demographics, clinical presentation, diagnostic work-up, perioperative data and repair durability during follow-up. Results: Twenty-three patients with aortoenteric fistulas were treated in the target period. The fistulous connection was located in 21 cases (91.3%) in the duodenum and in two cases (8.7%) in the small intestine. Average time between the initial procedure and detection of the aortoenteric fistula was 69.4 ± 72.5 months. The most common presenting symptom was gastrointestinal bleeding (n = 12, 52.2%), followed by symptoms suggestive of chronic infection (n = 11, 47.8%). Open surgical repair was performed in 19 patients (bridging in 3 patients), and endovascular repair was carried out in two cases and one patient underwent a hybrid operation. One patient underwent abscess drainage due to significant comorbidities. Mean follow-up was 35.1 ± 35.5 months. In-hospital mortality and overall mortality were 43.5% (10/23) and 65.2% (15/23), respectively. Patients presenting with bleeding had a significantly higher perioperative mortality rate in comparison to patients presenting with chronic infection (66.7% (8/12) and 18.2% (2/11), respectively, p = 0.019). Patients who underwent stent-graft implantation for control of acute life-threatening bleeding showed significantly better perioperative survival in comparison to patients that were acutely treated with an open procedure (66.6%, (4/6) and 0% (0/6), respectively, p = 0.014). Perioperative mortality was also higher for ASA IV patients (71.4%, 5/7), when compared to ASA III Patients (31.2%, 5/16), although this did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.074). Conclusion: Treatment of secondary aortoenteric fistulas is associated with a high perioperative mortality rate. Patients who survive the perioperative period following open surgical repair in the absence of hemorrhagic shock show acceptable midterm results during follow-up. Stent-graft implantation for bleeding control in patients presenting with life-threatening bleeding seems to be associated with lower perioperative mortality rates.