Fatal embolization of intestinal contents through a duodenocaval fistula.
Embolization of intestinal contents to the lung is an exceedingly rare event, which to our knowledge, has never been reported as a cause of death. Equally rare is duodenocaval fistula resulting from a penetrating duodenal peptic ulcer. We present the case of a 51-year-old man whose duodenal ulcer led to a fistulous tract with the inferior vena cava and subsequently to progressive pulmonary embolization of intestinal contents, ultimately resulting in death from respiratory failure.
Godwin
T A
TA
Department of Pathology, New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center, NY 10021.
Mercer
G
G
Holodny
A I
AI
D004378:Duodenal Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D004381:Duodenal Ulcer / Q000150:complications; D005766:Gastrointestinal Contents; D006801:Humans; D007412:Intestinal Fistula / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010439:Peptic Ulcer Perforation / Q000150:complications; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D014682:Vena Cava, Inferior