title: A case report of a "smouldering" uretero-vascular fistula.
abstract: Uretero-vascular fistulae are rare. As compared to aortic, uretero-iliac fistulae are by far more frequent according to a 1:8 ratio. We present one case of uretero-prosthetic fistula in a man operated upon the resection of an aortobisiliac aneurysm and Dacron prosthetic graft; six years later, a blunt trauma to the body was followed by a threatening shock, resistant to medical measures. Two subsequent emergency operations allowed to a difficult diagnosis and a life-saving repair of the fistula. Some hypotheses on the pathogenesis of the condition are discussed as well as its clinical problems.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Urology Operative Unit, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria of Parma, Italy. sferretti@ao.pr.it
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ferretti
authors.forename: Umberto
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Maestroni
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Azzolini
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cortellini
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D006801:Humans; D007083:Iliac Artery; D008297:Male; D014515:Ureteral Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D014548:Urinary Fistula / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D016157:Vascular Fistula / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis