Primary aortoenteric fistula associated with giant aortic pseudoaneurysm.

Aortoenteric fistula is a very rare pathology that may cause catastrophic complications and even death. We present here a case of primary aortoenteric fistula associated with giant aortic pseudoaneurysm that has been treated successfully with surgical intervention.

Closure of adult patent ductus arteriosus under cardiopulmonary bypass by using foley balloon catheter.

BACKGROUND: The wall of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in adults is usually fragile and may be associated with calcification. METHOD: We present a 43-year-old female patient who underwent successful ductal closure operation under cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) via a transpulmonary route. RESULTS: The operation was uneventful and the patient was discharged from the hospital on the 4th postoperative day. CONCLUSION: Transpulmonary route for the closure of the PDA by using CPB is a safe and acceptable approach in adult patients.

Inflammatory abdominal aortic aneurysm: predictors of long-term outcome in a case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Inflammatory abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) are relatively rare clinical entities. The aim of this study is to ascertain the risk factors in patients with inflammatory AAAs and clarify which feature plays a role in determining the long-term outcome in these patients. METHODS: Between 1990 and 1997, 238 patients underwent surgery for an AAA at our institution, 17 (7.1%) of whom had the diagnosis of inflammatory type AAA. This group was matched in a case-control fashion to a group of 35 patients with similar characteristics of age, gender, and preoperative risk factors who were operated on for a noninflammatory AAA. All available clinical, pathologic, and postoperative variables were retrospectively reviewed, and the 2 groups were compared. In the inflammatory group, risk factor analysis was performed for poor outcome. RESULTS: All operations were performed through a standard transperitoneal median laparotomy. The 2 groups did not differ significantly in terms of clinical characteristics and preoperative risk factors Patients with inflammatory AAAs were significantly more symptomatic (100% vs 31%, P = .03) and had larger aneurysm size on admission (8.2 +/- 1.2 cm vs 6.1 +/- 0.4 cm, P = .04). In inflammatory AAAs, preoperative erythrocyte sedimentation rate was found to be significantly elevated (mean, 48 +/- 14 mm/h vs 8 +/- 3 mm/h, P = .01). Surgical morbidity and mortality rates did not differ between 2 groups. The intensive care unit and hospital stay periods were similar in both groups (2.2 days vs 1.8 days, P = .25, and 9.2 days vs 8.1 days, P = .35). Eight-year survival rates of inflammatory and noninflammatory groups were 60% and 74%, respectively (P = .01). Results from Cox proportional hazards model analysis showed that a high sedimentation rate after surgical intervention (P = .02), cardiovascular disease (P = .01), postoperative persisting fibrosis with ureteral entrapment (P = .01), and postoperative chronic renal failure (P = .02) were independent risk factors for death. Other surgical variables did not prove to be risk factors for long-term mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Although the preoperative characteristics may differ in patients with inflammatory type AAAs, they can be treated today with low morbidity and mortality rates. However, inflammatory process may continue postoperatively because of unknown reasons, and the study documented that persisting, postoperative inflammatory process with or without retroperitoneal fibrosis may place a patient at high risk for poor outcome. This is important information for the long-term management of these patients, and we believe that their follow-up protocols should be more comprehensive to further improve their long-term survival rates.