Fatal gastrointestinal haemorrhage due to coexisting primary aorto-enteric and aorto-colic fistulae. Complicating untreated atheromatous abdominal aortic aneurysm.
We report a case of aorto-enteric and aorto-colonic fistulae in a 73 year old man with no previous abdominal surgery which resulted in massive gastrointestinal haemorrhage and death and was undiagnosed despite several hospital admissions and endoscopic examinations. This case serves to highlight an extremely rare but fatal condition, which is potentially treatable, if an early diagnosis is made.
Beh
P S
PS
Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong.
Dickens
P
P
D000368:Aged; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D003108:Colonic Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007412:Intestinal Fistula / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D016157:Vascular Fistula / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology