title: Late complications of abdominal aortic reconstructive surgery: roentgen evaluation.
abstract: During a 5-year period from 1969 to 1974, 53  (8.5%) of 631 patients developed late complications following abdominal aortic reconstructive surgery. Occlusion was the most frequent complication and occurred in 4%. Others included stenosis, false aneurysm, enteric fistula and infection. Late complications were demonstrated by roentgenographic methods. Angiography was the most valuable roentgen study. It is indicated in all patients suspected of having delayed complications except those with unstable life-threatening hemorrhage. Additional roentgenographic studies including the barium enema and barium meal may help make the diagnosis and exclude other entities. In any patient with an abdominal aortic graft and gastrointestinal bleeding, the diagnosis of an aorto-enteric fistula should be considered until otherwise proven.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001012:Aorta, Abdominal / Q000601:surgery; D001014:Aortic Aneurysm / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D001024:Aortic Valve Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001027:Aortography; D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D004378:Duodenal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D004691:Endarterectomy; D005260:Female; D005402:Fistula / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D007412:Intestinal Fistula / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging