Aortoenteric Flstulas

Aortoenteric fistulas are relatively rare but serious cause of massive gastrointestinal hemorrhage. Most occur as a consequence of aortic reconstructive surgery and involve the proximal graft anastomosis. Most patients have an initial episode of bleeding followed hours to weeks later by catastrophic hemorrhage. Patients with gastrointestinal bleeding who have undergone prior aortic reconstructive surgery should be approached with a great sense of urgency and a high index of suspicion. Treatment of aortoenteric fistula is early surgical intervention. The mortality rate is essentially 100 % without promt surgical intervention.

We report here in a case of aortoenteric fistula which occured 20 years after an aortofemoral bypass and review the literature.