SECONDARY AORTODUODENAL FISTULA COMPLICATING AORTIC GRAFTING, AS A CAUSE OF INTERMITTENT CHRONIC INTESTINAL BLEEDING

Intermittent intestinal bleeding persisted in a 77-year-old male, who had undergone grafting for abdominal aortic aneurysm, Each attack last ed for a few weeks and spontaneously resolved, Only a minute abnormali ty was found in the third portion of the duodenum; barium studies show ed a segmental narrowing, but endoscopy disclosed only a small erosion in that portion, Massive and fatal gastrointestinal hemorrhage broke out 6 months after the onset of bleeding, Autopsy revealed an adhesion area with a small fistula formation between the duodenum and aorta, E ven slight endoscopic findings should be considered suggestive of aort oenteric fistula in patients after aortic surgery.