ABSTRACT
Primary aorto-enteric fistula is a very rare entity, with a high mortality. Direct aortic reconstruction is the preferred treatment, with extra-anatomic revascularization regarded as an alternative. Despite somehow promising results, the role of endovascular exclusion is still under scrutiny. CASE REPORT: Male patient, 80 years old, with a history of Micobacterium bovis infection one year ago, and two episodes of gastrointestinal bleeding in the last month. He presented with abdominal pain and hematochezia, was hypotensive and digested blood was found in the nasogastric tube. Anemia (Hb 7,3g/dL) was the only bloodwork remark. Upper and lower endoscopies reported no bleeding nor suspect lesions. Angio-CT showed a pseudo aneurysm of the infra-renal aorta, adherent to the third portion of the duodenum, with findings suggestive of an aorto-enteric fistula; it also showed a thrombosed false aneurysm related to the aorta and left iliac artery. None of these CT findings were reported in a CT done one year before. A right axillo-femoral bypass and crossover femoro-femoral bypass were done, before laparotomy, duodenal repair with jejunal patch and aortic and iliac arteries suture interruption. Good clinical outcome, with discharge from hospital on the 11th post-operative day. One year afterwards no vascular or gastrointestinal events were noticed. No positive microbiological cultures were obtained. CONCLUSION: The history of previous Micobacterium infection and the absence of the CT findings one year before this event support the aortic infection as the most likely cause for the fistula, emphasizing the rarity of this case.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: Estimate the frequency and risk factors of restenosis after carotid endarterectomy, contralateral carotid disease development, neurologic symptoms (ipsi or contralateral) and new endarterectomy (ipsi or contralateral) in patients who underwent previously endarterectomy. METHODS: Retrospective single center analysis of the electronic clinical data and of duplex ultrasound results of 293 consecutive patients who underwent carotid endarterectomy between 2002 and 2008. The study included risk factors, procedure and patient's characteristics. All outcomes, since time-dependent, were estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method. The association between outcomes and risk factors was evaluated with the Log Rang test. RESULTS: The proportion of patients with restenosis/occlusion during follow up was 16% (EP=0,04), at 8,5 years. The rate of patients with restenosis was much higher in patients that underwent direct closure when compared to all other (16% Vs 2% at 3,4 years; P=0,02). At 9 years, 26% (EP=0,05) of the patients without previous contralateral internal carotid artery stenosis showed progression of the disease. CONCLUSION: Findings during duplex ultrasound follow up in patients who underwent carotid endarterectomy reach a somewhat unexpected high frequency. However, most of these changes do not mean hemodynamic or clinical significance. Direct arterial closure was associated with higher restenosis frequency. The disease progression in contralateral side occurred in a considerable proportion of cases, in particular in those patients who had already hemodynamically significant stenosis. These findings emphasize the potential benefits of duplex ultrasound follow up in patients who undergo carotid endarterectomy.
