Aorto-enteric Fistula 15 Years After Uncomplicated Endovascular Aortic Repair with Unforeseen Onset of Endocarditis

Burden of Candida-related vascular graft infection: a nested-case control study

PURPOSE

We aimed to assess risk factors of candida-related Vascular Graft Infections (VGIs).

METHODS

We did a case-control study (1:4) matched by age and year of infection, nested in a cohort of patient with a history of VGIs. Cases were defined by a positive culture for Candida spp. in biological samples and controls were defined by a positive culture for bacterial strains only in biological samples. Risk factors for Candida-related VGIs were investigated using multivariate logistic regression. Mortality were compared using survival analysis.

RESULTS

16 Candida-related VGIs were matched to 64 bacterial-related VGIs. The two groups were comparable regarding medical history and clinical presentation. Candida-related VGIs were associated with bacterial strains in 88% (14/16). Gas/fluid-containing collection on abdominal CT scan and the presence of an aortic endoprosthesis were risk factors for Candida spp.-related VGIs [RRa 10.43 [1.81-60.21] p = 0.009 RRa and 6.46 [1.17-35.73] p = 0.03, respectively]. Candida-related VGIs were associated with a higher mortality when compared to bacterial-related VGIs (p = 0.002).

CONCLUSIONS

Candida-related VGIs are severe. Early markers of Candida spp. infection are needed to improve their outcome. The suspicion of aortic endoprosthesis infection may necessitate probabilistic treatment with antifungal agents.

Digestive hemorrhage and fever as a result of a double secondary aortoenteric fistula following the repair of a juxtarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm and an infection of the aortobifemoral bypass graft: a case report

A double secondary aortoenteric fistula (AEF) occurs in a patient who has had significant aortic surgery and is characterized by a direct connection between the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and the aorta at two separate sites.

IMPORTANCE

During aortoc reconstructive surgery, the patient may present with a variety of unusual complaints, including fever and GI bleeding. These symptoms are indicative of problems, including the development of an aortoentric fistula, particularly when there is a double secondary fistula.

CASE PRESENTATION

The patient was admitted to the hospital due to hematemesis, melena, and high-grade fever after undergoing synthetic grafting aortobifemoral bypass (anatomical reconstruction) and partial resection of the juxtarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm. Pus discharge and a double aortoenteric fistula in unusual sites such as the second-third portion of the duodenum and caecum are visible in upper GI endoscopy and computed tomography angiography. The patient underwent a two-stage open surgery, the first stage involving aortic limb graft exclusion and extra anatomical reconstruction, and the second stage involving graft removal, fistula management, and bowel repair. Then the patient spent a few days in the surgical intensive care unit before being discharged.

CLINICAL DISCUSSION

Primary and secondary AEF are the two categories of AEF. In patients who underwent aortic reconstruction surgery, the frequency of secondary AEF ranges from 0.36 to 1.6%. Due to the 8:1 injury ratio in the secondery AEF, men suffer more injuries than women.There are two types of fistula depending on whether or not the suture line is involved. The first form is graft enteric erosion, which excludes the suture line, while the second type is entric graft fistula, where the suture line is included. Most common site fistula is third and fourth part of duodenum and least common site is fistula formation in large bowel.

CONCLUSIONS

An uncommon complication is double secondary AEF following aortic reconstruction surgery. Since one of the most significant presentations an AEF patient can present with is major GI bleeding and sepsis, A delay in seeking immediate medical treatment could result in the patient's death. It should be emphasized that one of the mechanisms for AEF formation and a frequent cause of sepsis in patients is recurrent aortic graft infection following aortic reconstruction surgery.

COVID-19 induced aorto duodenal fistula following evar in the so called "negative" patient

OBJECTIVES

Since October 2019, SARS-CoV-2 pandemic represents a challenge for the international healthcare system and for the treatment and survival of patients. We normally focus on symptomatic patients, and symptoms can range from the respiratory to the gastrointestinal system. In addition, we consider patients without fever and respiratory symptoms, with both a negative RT nasopharyngeal swab and lung CT, as a "Covid-19 negative patient." In this article, we present a so called Covid-19 "negative" patient, with an unsuspected vascular clinical onset of the viral infection.

METHODS

An 80 y.o. man, who previously underwent endovascular aortic repair for an infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm, presented to our department with an atypical presentation of an aorto-enteric fistula during the pandemic. While in hospital, weekly nasopharyngeal swab tests were always negative for SARS-CoV-2. However, the absence of aortic endograft complications, the gross anatomy of duodenal ischemic injury, and the recent history of the patient who lived the last months in Bergamo, the Italian city with the highest number of COVID-19 deaths, lead the senior Author to suspect an occult SARS-CoV-2 infection. The patient underwent to resection of the fourth portion of the duodenum and the first jejunal loop, with subsequent duodenum-jejunal latero-lateral anastomosis and the direct suture of the aortic wall. The intestinal specimen was investigated as suspected SARS-CoV-2 bowel infection by the means of immune-histochemistry (IHC). An ileum sample obtained in the pre-COVID-19 era was used as a control tissue.

RESULTS

The histological analysis of the bowel revealed sustained wall ischemia and liponecrosis of the duodenal wall, with intramural blood vessels thrombosis. Blood vessel endotheliitis and neo-angiogenesis were also observed. Finally, the IHC was strongly positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA and for HLA-G presence, with a particular concentration both in blood vessels and in the intestinal villi. The control tissue sample was not positive for both SARS-CoV-2 and HLA-G.

CONCLUSIONS

Coronavirus pandemic continues to be an international challenge and more studies and trials must be done to learn its pathogenesis and its complications. As for thromboembolic events caused by SARS-COV-2, vascular surgeons are involved in treatment and prevention of the complications of this syndrome and must be ready with general surgeons to investigate atypical and particular cases such as the one discussed in this article.

Aortoduodenal fistulas after endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair and open aortic repair

OBJECTIVE

In the present study, we have reported and compared aortoduodenal fistulas (ADFs) after endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) vs after open aortic repair (OAR).

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed the data from patients treated for ADFs from January 2015 to May 2020 in our hospital. The clinical data, diagnostic procedures, and surgical options were evaluated. The primary endpoints of the present study were 30-day and 1-year mortality. The secondary endpoints were major postoperative complications.

RESULTS

A total of 24 patients (20 men; median age, 69 years; range, 53-82 years) were admitted with ADFs after EVAR (n = 9) or OAR (n = 15). These patients accounted for ∼4.3% of all abdominal aortic aneurysm repairs in our hospital. The median interval from the initial aortic repair and the diagnosis of ADF was 68 months (range, 6-83 months) for the ADF-EVAR group and 80 months (range, 1-479 months) for the ADF-OAR group. Three patients in the ADF-EVAR group had refused surgical treatment owing to their high surgical risk. One patient in the ADF-OAR group had undergone removal of the aortic prosthesis without replacement. Of the remaining 20 patients, 12 (ADF-EVAR group, n = 4; ADF-OAR group, n = 8) had undergone in situ replacement of the aorta and 8 (ADF-EVAR group, n = 2; ADF-OAR group, n = 6) had undergone extra-anatomic reconstruction with aortic ligation. After a mean follow-up of 26 months, no patient had experienced early limb loss. However, one case of rupture of the venous graft (ADF-EVAR), one case of aortic stump blowout (ADF-OAR), and one case of a ureteroarterial fistula with a homograft (ADF-OAR) had occurred. Overall, the incidence of postoperative complications was significantly greater after ADF-OAR (93% vs 33%; P = .036). The most frequent bacteria involved in the blood cultures were Escherichia coli (25% of patients), and Candida spp. (61%) were the predominant pathogens found on intra-abdominal smears. The in-hospital mortality rates for the ADF-EVAR and ADF-OAR group were 22% and 13%, respectively. The corresponding 1 -year mortality rates were 22% and 33%.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with ADFs after EVAR or OAR have limited overall survival. In addition to the similar therapeutic approaches, we found no significant differences in postoperative mortality between these two uncommon pathologic entities. In our study, the overall postoperative morbidity seemed greater for the ADF-OAR group.

Aortoduodenal Fistula After Endovascular Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair

Aortoduodenal fistula after endovascular treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysm is a very rare but life-threatening complication. Herein, we describe 4 cases of aortoduodenal fistula diagnosed at 15 to 78 months after the index aortic intervention, all successfully treated by surgery. All patients underwent primary repair of the duodenal wall, creation of tube duodenostomy, stent graft removal, and in situ reconstruction using a rifampicin-soaked prosthesis. Patients received prolonged antibiotic treatment for at least 2 months postoperatively, and all were free of recurrent infection at follow-up. Prompt and appropriate surgical intervention is required to effectively manage this condition.

Secondary aortoenteric fistula possibly associated with continuous physical stimulation: a case report and review of the literature

BACKGROUND

Secondary aortoenteric fistula is a rare but fatal complication after reconstructive surgery for an aortic aneurysm characterized by abdominal pain, fever, hematochezia, and hematemesis, and the mortality rate is high. It has been suggested that it arises due to either continuous physical stimulation or prosthesis infection during primary surgery. We describe an aortoenteric fistula following reconstructive surgery for an abdominal aortic aneurysm together with postmortem pathological findings.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 59-year-old Japanese man who had undergone reconstructive surgery for an abdominal aortic aneurysm 20 months earlier presented with the chief complaint of hematochezia and malaise. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy and total colonoscopy revealed only colon diverticula with no bleeding. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography revealed gas within the aneurysm sac and adhesion between the replaced aortic graft and intestinal tract, suggesting a graft infection. After 18 days of antibiotic treatment, he suddenly went into a state of shock, with massive fresh bloody stool and hematemesis, followed by cardiac arrest. An autopsy revealed communication between the artery and the ileum through an ulcerative fistula at the suture line between the left aortic graft branch and the left common iliac artery. Pathological analysis revealed tight adherence between the arterial and intestinal walls, but no marked sign of infection around the fistula, suggesting that the fistula had arisen due to physical stimuli.

CONCLUSIONS

Pathological analysis suggested that the present secondary aortoenteric fistula arose due to physical stimuli. This reaffirms the importance of keeping reconstructed aortas isolated from the intestine after abdominal aortic aneurysm surgery.