Surgical treatment of primary aortojejunal fistula

Primary aortoenteric fistula is a rare clinical situation with a high mortality rate. One should suspect that condition when an abdominal aortic aneurysm is known to be present. We describe the case of a 60 year old man who presented with upper gastrointestinal bleeding as the first and sole manifestation of an abdominal aortic aneurysm, due to the rupture of the aneurysm in the jejunum.

The patient was admitted with hematemesis and melena. He reported no abdominal pain. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy disclosed no bleeding or lesions of the stomach and duodenum. Bleeding stopped the following day, only to recur 4 days later. The patient was then subjected to abdominal CT scan, which revealed the presence of a subrenal aortic aneurysm, with fistulization to the small intestine. At laparotomy the aortic aneurysm was adherent to the first centimeters of jejunum. The diseased aorta was excised and replaced with a Dacron Y graft in situ.

Primary aortojejunal fistulas are only rarely encountered. They usually are the result of a nonspecific aneurysm of the abdominal aorta. They usually manifest with premonitory bleeding, followed by catastrophic hemorrhage few days later. Even with surgery the mortality rate is high.

Diagnosis of primary aortoenteric fistula requires a high index of suspicion in cases of upper gastrointestinal bleeding, especially when endoscopy is negative and there is no knowledge of the existence of an abdominal aortic aneurysm. CT scan and prompt surgery are crucial to the survival of these patients.