Aneurysm of Aortic Homograft with Rupture into the Duodenum

Abstract

<h3>Introduction</h3> Massive gastrointestinal hemorrhage is a serious and often fatal condition, requiring the joint efforts of the physician and the surgeon. Prompt recognition of uncontrolled hemorrhage warrants the immediate attendance of a surgeon. Although the great majority of gastrointestinal hemorrhages are due to peptic ulcer, esophageal varices, carcinoma of the stomach, and gastritis, there is a small group of cases for which surgery is mandatory. Rupture of an aortic aneurysm into the gastrointestinal tract has infrequently been reported, and only recently has a patient with one survived.²⁰The occurrence of an aneurysm developing in an aortic homograft with subsequent rupture into the gastrointestinal tract has not previously been reported, to our knowledge. The following report represents such a case with survival. <h3>Report of a Case</h3> The patient, aged 70, was first admitted to Seaside Memorial Hospital on March 5, 1958, at 6:50 p. m. Four hours prior to admission