title: Secondary Aortoenteric Fistula After Abdominal Aortic Graft Implementation in Our Own Material.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Secondary aortoenteric fistula is a rare but severe complication occurring after abdominal aortic graft implementation.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of our study was to review the clinical presentation, diagnosis and postoperative course of patients with aortoenteric fistulas following vascular operations on the abdominal aorta in the years 2000-2014.
  
  
  METHODS
  Among all the patients treated in our center, during a 10-year period, aortoenteric fistulas were observed in 24 cases. The first symptoms occurred between 4 weeks and 8 years after the procedure (3.4 years on average). The most common clinical presentation was gastrointestinal bleeding in 16 cases (66.7%). All patients underwent surgical repair of an aortoenteric fistula, with graft removal and replacement in situ using silver impregnated prosthesis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 30-day mortality rate after surgical treatment of SAEF was 37.5% (9 patients). Causes of death included: hemorrhagic shock, multi-organ failure and myocardial infarction. The early complications after the surgical repair of an aortoenteric fistula occurred in 19 (79.2%) patients. Mortality during the one-year follow-up period was 38.5% (5 patients) and the one-year complication rate was 69.2%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Each patient with a history of abdominal aortic graft implementation and presenting symptoms of gastrointestinal bleeding requires careful diagnosing for aortoenteric fistula. New methods of surgical treatment offering lower mortality should be developed.
authors.affiliation: Department of General and Vascular Surgery, Voivodship Specialist Hospital in Wrocław, Poland.|Department of Clinical Biomechanics and Physiotherapy in Motor System Disorders, Wroclaw Medical University, Poland.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gnus
authors.affiliation: Department of General and Vascular Surgery, Voivodship Specialist Hospital in Wrocław, Poland.
authors.forename: Stanisław
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ferenc
authors.affiliation: Research and Development Centre, Voivodship Specialist Hospital, Wrocław, Poland.
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kościelna
authors.affiliation: Department of General and Vascular Surgery, Voivodship Specialist Hospital in Wrocław, Poland.|Department of Clinical Biomechanics and Physiotherapy in Motor System Disorders, Wroclaw Medical University, Poland.
authors.forename: Małgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Paprocka-Borowicz
authors.affiliation: Department of General and Vascular Surgery, Voivodship Specialist Hospital in Wrocław, Poland.
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dawidczyk
authors.affiliation: Department of General and Vascular Surgery, Voivodship Specialist Hospital in Wrocław, Poland.
authors.forename: Małgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dziewiszek
authors.affiliation: Department of General and Vascular Surgery, Voivodship Specialist Hospital in Wrocław, Poland.
authors.forename: Wojciech
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Witkiewicz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001012:Aorta, Abdominal / Q000637:transplantation*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D005260:Female; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology; D016157:Vascular Fistula / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery
keywords: GI-bleeding; aortic diseases; aortic surgery; aortoenteric fistula; complications