GASTROINTESTINAL HEMORRHAGE FOLLOWING REP AIR OF A DISSECTING ANEURYSM OF THE THORACIC AORTA

We present the case of a 45-year-old man who underwent surgical repair of a dissecting aneurysm of the descending thoracic aorta. 25 days po stoperatively, the patient unexpectedly developed hematemesis and hypo volemic shock. Emergency gastroscopy was performed and a suspected aor toesophageal fistula was diagnosed. Unfortunately, the patient died pr ior to emergency surgery. Aneurysms of the aorta or of aortic grafts o ccasionally lead to the development of fistulae to the upper gastroint estinal tract. Once this rare, but life-threatening complication is su spected, endoscopy must be performed immediately. Emergency surgery is associated with a high risk, but represents the only possibly chance of survival for the patient.