Aortoduodenal fistula - a rare cause of upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage

Upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage is the most frequent indication for emerg ency endoscopy. In most of the cases the bleeding is primarily treated endo scopically. The duodenal penetration of an aortic graft implant is a rare c ondition. only accidentally diagnosed by endoscopy. This condition represen ts a difficult situation for the endoscopist since it is usually not includ ed in the differential diagnosis. Additionally hemostasis can not be achiev ed by endoscopic intervention. Therefore the instant realization of this da ngerous diagnosis is extremely important, because only surgical therapy in a center of vascular surgery may save the live of the patient.