Aortoenteric fistula

Abstract

A fistula between the aorta and the gastrointestinal (GI) tract is a relatively uncommon and often lethal cause of GI bleeding. This report describes a patient with massive upper GI bleeding due to an aortoduodenal fistula. Such fistulae arise because of a combination of mechanical factors and local infection; the varied clinical presentations can be explained by the pathogenesis of the disease entity. These clinical presentations are reviewed, and a suggested approach to the diagnosis and management is presented.