title: A Case of Primary Aortoenteric Fistula: Review of Therapeutic Challenges.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Primary aortoenteric fistula (PAEF) is a lethal cause of gastrointestinal bleeding. They mainly originate from eroding abdominal aortic aneurysms into the intestinal wall. Other known causes involve malignancies, infection, corpora aliena, or radiation therapy. Traditional treatment consists of resection of the fistula and extra-anatomic reconstruction. In situ repair and endovascular stenting have offered new therapeutic options in managing this complex entity.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 79-year-old woman presented with a PAEF. She was known with a 3.9-cm abdominal aortic aneurysm and polymyalgia rheumatica. The initial treatment consisted of endovascular stenting. Several months later, she presented with persistent inflammation of the aortic endoprosthesis. The prosthesis and inflammatory tissue were resected, and in situ reconstruction with autologous superficial femoral vein and omentoplasty was performed. Two years later, she remains well with no evidence for infection or bleeding.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Polymyalgia rheumatica might induce an AEF as in this patient no other provoking factors were retained. The different therapeutic options all have their advantages and disadvantages. In line with this case, we suggest an individualized approach for AEFs. In case of precarious hemodynamical state or life expectancy, endovascular treatment is indicated. Afterward, the possibility and/or necessity of open repair should be discussed. For stable patients with respectable life expectancy in situ repair with autologuous vein or rifampicin-soaked prosthesis (adjusted to comorbidities) might be most appropriate. Extra-anatomic reconstruction still remains a valuable alternative in older patients and in the presence of any other local factors hampering in situ reconstruction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Surgery, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Bram
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Keunen
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Surgery, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Sabrina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Houthoofd
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Surgery, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Kim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Daenens
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, Antwerp University Hospital, Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: Jeroen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hendriks
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Surgery, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium. Electronic address: Inge.Fourneau@uzleuven.be.
authors.forename: Inge
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Fourneau
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation; D020878:Device Removal; D057510:Endovascular Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007412:Intestinal Fistula / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D011111:Polymyalgia Rheumatica / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D012086:Reoperation; D015607:Stents; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016157:Vascular Fistula / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*