Arterioureteral fistula: an unusual clinical case

Arterioureteral fistulas (AUFs) are abnormal communications between a major artery and the mid to distal ureter. It is a rare but potentially life-threatening condition that is seldom recognised. We present a case of a 66-year-old man who was admitted to the surgical ward owing to infection of an aortic bifemoral bypass graft. During admission, the patient developed persistent haematuria with considerable loss of haemoglobin. He was submitted to urgent surgical exploration of the graft. An ascending pyelography performed at the beginning of the surgery clearly shows a communication between the left ureter and the vascular graft. Open surgical exploration was undertaken, the fistulised section of the ureter resected and an end-to-end ureteroplasty was performed. The vascular graft was removed and the patient later submitted to left supracondylar amputation. Urinary drainage remained intact.