Surgical approach for the treatment of secondary aortoenteric fistulae

Imaging work-up and endovascular treatment options for aorto-enteric fistula

Aorto-enteric fistula (AEF) is a rare life-threatening condition. Early recognition and diagnosis are of paramount importance to improve outcome. In this article four cases of AEF with relevant pre- and post-procedural images are presented to demonstrate the utility of cross-sectional imaging in the work-up of AEF. The literature is reviewed to describe the typical presentation of AEF, the diagnostic work-up of AEF, and the different methods used to treat AEF. Endovascular repair of AEF is gaining increasing attention due to its decreased short-term mortality compared to open surgical techniques.

Open Conversion after Aortic Endograft Infection Caused by Colistin-Resistant, Carbapenemase-Producing Klebsiella pneumoniae

A 62-year-old man presented with fever, abdominal pain, and malaise 13 months after emergency endovascular aortic repair. Computed tomographic angiograms showed a periprosthetic fluid and gas collection, so infection was diagnosed. Open conversion was performed, involving endograft explantation and in situ aortic reconstruction. Cultures and the explanted prosthesis were positive for carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae, resistant to colistin. Because of the sparse data on endograft infections caused by this pathogen, we placed the patient on an empiric double-carbapenem regimen for 4 weeks. Symptomatic recovery occurred after 21 days. On the 30th day, we deployed a stent to treat a new pseudoaneurysm. Three years later, the patient had no signs of persistent or recurrent infection. We think that this is the first report of aortic endograft infection caused by colistin-resistant, carbapenemase-producing K. pneumoniae.

Infective Etiology Affects Outcomes of Late Open Conversion After Failed Endovascular Aneurysm Repair

Purpose: To retrospectively review all patients undergoing late open conversion (LOC) after endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) in order to identify any clinical or technical predictors of poor outcome. Methods: Twenty-six consecutive patients (24 men; mean age 74.7±8.3 years) underwent LOC between June 2006 and April 2013 at our institution. The mean interval from index EVAR to LOC was 40.4±29.2 months (range 5–93 months). The indication for LOC was endoleak in 14 (54%) patients and infection in 12 (46%): 2 (8%) patients with endoleak had a ruptured aneurysm and 6 (23%) patients with infection had a recurrent secondary aortoesophageal fistula (sAEF). Results: In all 12 cases of infection and in 12 of 14 endoleaks, the entire endograft was explanted. A rifampin-soaked Dacron silver graft was implanted in all patients with infection. Patients with any infection and with recurrent AEF required more blood units than patients with endoleak (6.40 vs. 1.86, p=0.045; 6.76 vs. 1.86, p=0.0036, respectively). Compared with endoleak, the duration of conversions in the setting of infection (274 vs. 316 minutes, p=0.42) and recurrent sAEF (274 vs. 396 minutes, p=0.021) was longer. All patients with recurrent sAEF died at a mean 3.0±2.5 days after LOC from proximal anastomosis disruption and hemorrhagic shock (n=2), myocardial infarction (n=2), acute stroke (n=1), or persistent sepsis (n=1). Perioperative mortality was significantly higher in patients with endograft infection (6/12, p=0.002) and in cases of supraceliac cross-clamping (4/6, p=0.003). The association of infection with supraceliac cross-clamping was a strong predictor for perioperative mortality (p<0.001). Conclusion: In our experience, endograft infection led to greater perioperative mortality after LOC. Recurrent aortoenteric fistula in association with supraceliac cross-clamping is a strong predictor of poor outcome. Patients surviving the perioperative period may have good chances of long-term survival.

[Repair of secondary aortoenteric fistulas. A systematic review]

We performed a systematic review of the literature on the diagnosis and treatment of secondary aortoenteric fistulas (AEF). A MEDLINE search was performed of articles published in English or Spanish between January 1991 and August 2006. Diagnostic methods, treatment modalities and the results of surgical treatment were analyzed. The most frequent first aortic surgery associated with AEF was repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm (54.31%). The most common form of presentation was gastrointestinal bleeding. Repair through in situ prosthetic replacement had the lowest early mortality rates (8-13.3%) compared with graft excision and extraanatomic revascularization (18.2-44%). AEF is a serious entity and diagnosis requires a high index of suspicion based on clinical findings and indirect data from imaging techniques (computed tomography). The most appropriate therapeutic option continues to be controversial.