Aorto-Enteric Fistulae: An Uncommon Complication of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms

Abstract

Abstract Three cases of aorto-enteric fistula which have been treated successfully by resection of the aortic aneurysm are described. Only 5 other successful cases have been reported. One hundred and thirty-one cases are reviewed and analysed, and though more than half of these survived for 24 hours or longer after the first gastro-intestinal haemorrhage, no untreated long-term survival has been recorded. We feel that urgent assessment and early corrective surgery is the only treatment which offers a reasonable chance of survival.