title: Aorto-pulmonary fistula: a rare event in the evolution of a dissecting aneurysm of the thoracic aorta.
abstract: The natural history of a thoracic aneurysm is usually towards the dissection or free rupture; rarely an aorto-pulmonary fistula can complicate this lesion. We present two cases of Aorto-pulmonary fistula as acute complication of an aneurysm of thoracic aorta; the etiopathology seem to be related to the same mechanism: a dissecting aneurysm of the ascending aorta leading to a secondary fistulation in the main pulmonary artery. In our two cases the diagnosis was suggested by clinical findings and by Doppler-echocardiography. Both patients were managed surgically with success and both survived.
authors.affiliation: Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Department, University Hospital, Caen, France.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Massetti
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Babatasi
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Saloux
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bhoyroo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khayat
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000784:Aortic Dissection / Q000150:complications*; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic; D017545:Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic / Q000150:complications*; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D001159:Arterio-Arterial Fistula / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011651:Pulmonary Artery