Abstract
Background A 57-year-old male with an aortobifemoral bypass graft presented to a gastroenterology clinic with a 3-month history of intermittent hematemesis, melena and fever. The patient had received antibiotic therapy 2 months before for the same symptoms; however, following brief regression (∼3 weeks) the symptoms had returned.
Investigations Physical examination; analysis of full blood count; measurement of erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein levels, liver enzymes, electrolytes, renal function, serum cholesterol and serum triglyceride; HIV serology; blood, sputum, urine and stool culture analysis; performance of esophagogastroduodenoscopy, colonoscopy, abdominal ultrasonography and multidetector CT scanning.
Diagnosis Aortoenteric fistula with an inflammatory mass surrounding the aortobifemoral bypass graft.
Management Laparotomy with removal of the aortobifemoral bypass graft, performance of an extra-anatomic right axillofemoral bypass graft and an extra-anatomic right-left femorofemoral bypass graft.
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Ödemiş, B., Başar, Ö., Ertuğrul, İ. et al. Detection of an aortoenteric fistula in a patient with intermittent bleeding. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 5, 226–230 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/ncpgasthep1075
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/ncpgasthep1075
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