title: Aortoenteric fistula.
abstract: A fistula between the aorta and the gastrointestinal (GI) tract is a relatively uncommon and often lethal cause of GI bleeding. This report describes a patient with massive upper GI bleeding due to an aortoduodenal fistula. Such fistulae arise because of a combination of mechanical factors and local infection; the varied clinical presentations can be explained by the pathogenesis of the disease entity. These clinical presentations are reviewed, and a suggested approach to the diagnosis and management is presented.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001012:Aorta, Abdominal / Q000601:surgery; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D004378:Duodenal Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005402:Fistula / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007412:Intestinal Fistula / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery