Primary Aortoduodenal Fistula: A Case Report and Current Literature Review

Ann Vasc Surg. 2021 Jul:74:518.e13-518.e23. doi: 10.1016/j.avsg.2020.12.046. Epub 2021 Feb 4.

Abstract

Primary aortoduodenal fistula is a rare, life-threatening pathology that is difficult to diagnose and manage. We present the case of a 64-year-old male with a primary aortoduodenal fistula. Our patient initially underwent an endovascular aneurysm repair at an outside institution before being transferred to our tertiary care center, where he ultimately had definitive management with an extra-anatomic bypass, aortic ligation, duodenal resection with primary anastomosis, and gastrojejunostomy tube placement. His surgical cultures grew Candida albicans, and he was discharged with a 6-week course of intravenous antibiotics with subsequent antibiotic suppression for 1 year. He died 14 months postoperatively from tongue squamous cell carcinoma. We also review the current literature regarding epidemiology, pathology, diagnostics, management, and case reports from 2015 to present. Overall, timely diagnosis and treatment is imperative for reducing mortality from primary aortoduodenal fistula, and although formal consensus is lacking regarding most clinical aspects, an increasing number of case reports has helped describe options for management.

Keywords: Abdominal aorta aneurysm; Aortoduodenal fistula; Aortoenteric fistula; Endovascular aneurysm repair; Gastrointestinal bleeding; Primary aortoduodenal fistula.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Aneurysm, False / diagnostic imaging
  • Aneurysm, False / microbiology
  • Aneurysm, False / surgery*
  • Aneurysm, Infected / diagnostic imaging
  • Aneurysm, Infected / microbiology
  • Aneurysm, Infected / surgery*
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / diagnostic imaging
  • Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / microbiology
  • Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / surgery*
  • Aortic Diseases / diagnostic imaging
  • Aortic Diseases / microbiology
  • Aortic Diseases / surgery*
  • Digestive System Surgical Procedures*
  • Duodenal Diseases / diagnostic imaging
  • Duodenal Diseases / microbiology
  • Duodenal Diseases / surgery*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Intestinal Fistula / diagnostic imaging
  • Intestinal Fistula / microbiology
  • Intestinal Fistula / surgery*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Vascular Fistula / diagnostic imaging
  • Vascular Fistula / microbiology
  • Vascular Fistula / surgery*
  • Vascular Surgical Procedures*

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents