Secondary Aorto-enteric Fistula and Type II Endoleak Five Years after Endovascular Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair.

Introduction: Secondary aorto-enteric fistula (AEF) after endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) is a rare but potentially fatal disease. The aetiology and mechanisms are unclear. This study presents a patient who developed secondary AEF and type II endoleak five years after EVAR.

Case: A 73 year old man underwent successful EVAR with a bifurcated aortic stent graft for a 5.5 cm infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm. The aneurysm sac showed no change in size for three years, then shrank 20 mm to 3.5 cm by five years. After five years and eight months, the patient presented with fever and back pain. Enhanced CT demonstrated enlargement of the aneurysm sac, type II endoleak from the third and fourth right lumbar arteries, and air around the stent graft. An emergency operation was performed. The infected stent graft was removed by pushing up the stent graft to release the hooks from the wall of the aorta. A small fistula resembling a fish mouth measuring 1×1 cm was observed in the third part of the duodenum. The fistula was closed by direct suture, and in situ reconstruction was performed with an 18×9 mm standard polyethylene terephthalate graft. Culture of the explanted stent graft grew enterobacter. Intravenous antibiotic therapy was continued for six weeks and was stopped after confirming no recurrence of infection with computed tomography and laboratory testing. Two years later, there has been no recurrence of infection.

Conclusion: Long term surveillance is critical because AEF can occur even after initially successful EVAR.