title: Spontaneous aorto-caval fistulas from ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms.
abstract: Thirty-six cases of abdominal aortic aneurysms rupturing into the vena cava and two iliac aneurysms rupturing into iliac veins are reported. This group represents 10% of the total number of observed ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms (388). Such a condition is therefore quite rare but should be considered positively because the reported mortality rate is less than with ruptured aneurysms in general. Nevertheless, a spontaneous aorto-caval fistula is responsible for a critical haemodynamic deterioration and sudden worsening of the general condition of the patient and therefore prompt surgical repair is mandatory. The overall mortality rate in our series was 21% (8 cases).
authors.affiliation: Institute of General and Cardiovascular Surgery, University of Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Miani
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Giorgetti
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arpesani
authors.forename: G F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Giuffrida
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Biasi
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Ruberti
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D017542:Aneurysm, Ruptured / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D001164:Arteriovenous Fistula / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007083:Iliac Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D007084:Iliac Vein / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography; D012422:Rupture, Spontaneous; D014682:Vena Cava, Inferior / Q000601:surgery