Clinical presentation of a missed primary aorto-enteric fistula.
Primary aortoenteric fistula is a rare but potentially fatal cause of gastrointestinal bleeding. The diagnosis of primary aortoeteric fistula is difficult to make and is usually accompanied by a very high level of clinical suspicion. In the context of a known abdominal aortic aneurysm it is reasonable to have a high index of clinical suspicion ofaortoenteric fistula. It should be included in the differential diagnosis with low back pain and a palpable midline abdominal mass in a haemodynamically stable patient. We present a case of a 59 year old man with no past history of abdominal aortic aneurysm presented with lower back and periumblical pain. Initial misdiagnosis led to a delay in treatment and the patient succumbed to the illness.
Mehmood
Rao Khalid
RK
Lincoln County Hospital, 1/2 Rowan House, St. Anne's Close, Lincoln, Ireland.
Mushtaq
Abid
A
Andrew
David R
DR
Miller
George Allan
GA
D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000175:diagnosis; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D006801:Humans; D007412:Intestinal Fistula / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013997:Time Factors; D016157:Vascular Fistula / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology