Rupture of a Dacron aortic prosthesis into the jejunum

A 55-year-old man was admitted to the hospital with massive melena and shock. He had a history of Dacron Y graft reconstruction for aortoiliac atheroscerotic occlusive disease 10 years before admission. At emergency laparotomy the jejunum was adherent to the graft. After separation a fistulous communication was detected between the two. A longitudinal tear in the stem of the graft was found. The graft was reconstructed with a Gore-Tex (Gore-Tex registered trademark of W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc., Elkton, Md.) patch. His postoperative course was uneventful.