Lower intestinal bleeding due to aorto-enteric fistula

• Published in: Digestive and liver disease Vol. 35; no. 3; pp. 193 - 196
• Main Authors: Maiolo, C, Caprioglio, S, Cadario, G, De Lorenzo, A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Ltd 01.03.2003
• Subjects: Aged; Anaemia; Aortic Diseases - complications; Aortic Diseases - diagnosis; Aorto-jejunal fistula; Blood Vessel Prosthesis - microbiology; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal; Escherichia coli - isolation & purification; Escherichia coli Infections - complications; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage - diagnostic imaging; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage - etiology; Humans; Intestinal bleeding; Intestinal Fistula - complications; Intestinal Fistula - diagnosis; Jejunal Diseases - complications; Jejunal Diseases - diagnosis; Male; Postoperative Complications; Prosthesis Failure; Prosthesis-Related Infections - complications; Radionuclide Imaging; Technetium; Vascular graft infection; Aorto-jejunal fistula; Vascular graft infection; Intestinal bleeding; Anaemia
• ISSN: 1590-8658; 1878-3562
• DOI: 10.1016/S1590-8658(03)00028-8

The case is described of a man who complained of intermittent fever and fatigue. After three digestive endoscopies and computed tomography, a 99m technetium-HM-PAO-labelled white cell scan was usefully employed to establish diagnosis. Anaerobic aortic Graft infection and anaemia due to lower intermittent occult intestinal bleeding were found. The intestinal bleeding was caused by secondary aorto-jejunal fistula. This condition is rare, but should be suspected whenever a patient with aortic prosthesis presents with occult digestive bleeding and unexplained fever.