Background: An aortoduodenal fistula (ADF) is an unusual, but serious complication following surgical or endovascular aortic repair. The optimal treatment for ADF consists of removal of the infected graft with in situ or extra-anatomical repair and is associated with high mortality. Part of this mortality is caused by re-bleeding or aortic stump ruptures. Classical treatment of an aortic stump rupture involves immediate re-laparotomy, removal of infected tissue, aortic stump formation and reinforcement with soft tissue flaps. However, this invasive treatment is often difficult to perform and the condition of the patient frequently requires a more rapid response. We describe a case in which an aortic stump rupture was treated endovascularly by using an Amplatzer® Vascular Plug, which successfully stopped the bleeding. Case presentation: This report describes a 67-year-old man who was presented with persistent duodenal leakage (due to secondary duodenal perforation) after resection and open in-situ repair of an infected aorto-bi-femoral prosthetic graft. An extra-anatomical reconstruction was performed with an axillo-bi-femoral bypass, followed by excision of the prosthesis, aortic stump formation, partial duodenal resection and duodenojejunal reconstruction. Twelve weeks later, sudden severe hematemesis with severe hemodynamic instability occurred. Computed tomography angiography showed extravasation of blood from the aortic stump into the duodenal loop. Endovascular treatment of the aortic stump blow-out with an Amplatzer® Vascular Plug was performed, which successfully stopped the bleeding and stabilized the patient. The duodenal fistula was treated conservatively. Three months later, the patient was discharged to a rehabilitation clinic in a good clinical condition. The patient was still alive after a follow-up of 4 years. Conclusions: Rapid treatment is requested in cases of aortic stump rupture. Re-laparotomy is practically never the most suitable solution and most of these aortic stump ruptures are fatal. Endovascular treatment could be a suitable alternative. Whether the endovascular treatment of aortic stump rupture is a definitive treatment or a bridge to surgery remains to be elucidated.
Introduction
Thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) is the treatment of choice for blunt thoracic aortic injury (BTAI) and has proven to be a good alternative to open surgery. TEVAR requires less operation time, has fewer complications, can be used for relatively unstable patients, and is associated with a significantly lower mortality rate. Moreover, long term follow up data demonstrate low re-intervention rates and stentgraft failure.
Report
The case of a 21 year old man who sustained severe trauma, including a traumatic pseudoaneurysm of the descending thoracic aorta distal to the left subclavian artery in 2016, is presented. The patient was treated by TEVAR. Two years later, he presented with progressive paraplegia due to stentgraft occlusion occurring four days after a new high velocity motor vehicle accident. An axillofemoral bypass was performed to assure blood flow to the lower body. Two days later the stentgraft was removed via left thoracotomy and replaced by a Dacron graft. Gross examination showed severe thrombus formation at the proximal edge, and a thrombotic occlusion in the middle and distal third of the stent. After three months of hospitalisation the patient was discharged to a rehabilitation clinic with partial recovery of his paraplegia. As of June 2020, the patient was able to walk without assistance and his paraplegia improved with only loss of sensation of his lower legs.
Conclusion
A serious thrombotic complication two years after TEVAR is described. Although TEVAR is the currently preferred treatment for BTAI, more research is needed to examine the mechanisms behind this thrombotic complication and to elucidate whether TEVAR is definitive treatment or a “bridge to further surgery”. Smaller diameter stentgrafts, anticoagulation, regular (lifelong) follow up imaging, and prophylactic surgical conversion in (selected) patients might help to prevent this serious complication.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.