Primary Aortoduodenal Fistula-A Case Report and a Review of the Literature

Abstract

Primary aortoduodenal fistula (PADF) is a direct communication between the abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) and duodenum. It is a rare entity and causes life-threatening gastrointestinal hemorrhage. Diagnosis requires a high index of clinical suspicion, and surgery offers the only hope for survival. We present a 73-year-old male who was initially admitted to the hospital with back pain and fever. He was diagnosed with pyelonephritis and treated with antibiotics. Computed tomography of the abdomen showed an AAA, but no aortoduodenal fistula was seen. Twelve days later, he was admitted to the hospital as he was hemodynamically unstable. An emergency laparotomy revealed a PADF which was repaired. The aortic aneurysm was repaired with an in situ silver graft and a bifemoral bypass. However, the patient developed severe graft infection and later succumbed.