Surgical repair of large aortocaval fistula with limited shunt: Case report

Surgical Repair of a 13-cm Infrarenal Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm with Aortocaval Fistula in a 63-Year-Old Tuba Player

Infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm with aortocaval fistula, a rare condition, can be fatal without prompt intervention. The clinical symptoms are complex and varied, so diagnosis is typically confirmed by use of contrast-enhanced multidetector computed tomography. We report our surgical repair of a 13-cm-diameter infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm and aortocaval fistula in a 63-year-old orchestral tuba player who had 2 classic symptoms of the condition. The unruptured aneurysm and fistula were complicated by acutely angled vessels, so we performed surgery rather than endovascular repair. The patient recovered fully and was discharged from the hospital. This infrarenal aneurysm with aortocaval fistula is perhaps the largest to have been treated successfully by means of open surgery. In addition to our patient's case, we discuss the history and treatment considerations of this rare combined condition.