Primary aorto-duodenal fistula is a rare and life-threatening cause of upper gastro-intestinal bleed. In this case report, a patient presented acutely with several episodes of haematochezia and pulseless lower limbs bilaterally. Primary aorto-duodenal fistula with peripheral vascular disease was diagnosed after an urgent CT angiogram was performed. She underwent left axillo-bifemoral bypass, resection of the fistula, Rouxen-Y gastro-jejunostomy, pyloric exclusion and controlled duodenal fistula the following day.
Aortic Diseases/*diagnosis ; Duodenal Diseases/*diagnosis ; Intestinal Fistula/*diagnosis

Traditional treatments of gastrointestinal fistula include early drainage, maintaining nutrition and then resection of fistula at the proper time,which usually take three to four months or even longer. Rapid treatments of gastrointestinal fistula mean promoting rapid spontaneous closure of tract fistula and early primary resection of fistula within two weeks after fistula occurrence. Early diagnosis is the premise of early management, and fistulography and abdominal CT scan are important early diagnostic methods. Most of fistula could close spontaneously in the maintaining stage. To promote the rapid closure, however, special measures including sufficient drainage, somatostatin and total parenteral nutrition in the early stage should be implemented to avoid intra-abdominal collection of intestinal fluid and infection, control further leakage of intestinal fluid and improve nutritional status. In the late stage,when leakage of intestinal fluid could be controlled, recombine human growth hormone (rhGH) and enteral nutrition should be administered in place of somatostatin and total parenteral nutrition respectively. The fistula can reach rapid spontaneous closure in both stages. Fibrin glue and rhGH used at the same time can improve the curative rate and shorten the treatment time even more. In the 1960s and 1970s, early primary resection of the fistula and re-anastomosis often resulted in anastomosis failure. The reasons for this included poor nutritional status, uncontrolled secretion of intestinal fluid, severe intra-abdominal infection and multiorgan dysfunction syndrome. Such stage management policy has been proposed, developed and persisted since late 1960s. Nowadays, the advance of medical science provided the possibility to change or improve the current policy. Our research proved that early resection of the primary fistula and re-anastomosis of the small bowel could be performed successfully in some selected patients whose general conditions are good and intestinal adhesion were not severe within ten to fourteen days after fistula occurrence. More studies are still needed to define the indications and contradictions for early resection of the primary gastrointestinal fistula, and prove the feasibility and rationality of rapid treatments of gastrointestinal fistula.
Early Diagnosis ; Humans ; Intestinal Fistula ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Parenteral Nutrition, Total

Gastrointestinal (GI) fistulas are frequently very serious complications that are associated with high morbidity and mortality. GI fistulas can cause a wide array of pathophysiological effects by allowing abnormal diversion of the GI contents, including digestive fluid, water, electrolytes, and nutrients, from either one intestine to another or from the intestine to the skin. As an alternative to surgery, recent technical advances in interventional radiology and percutaneous techniques have been shown as advantageous to lower the morbidity and mortality rate, and allow for superior accessibility to the fistulous tracts via the use of fistulography. In addition, new interventional management techniques continue to emerge. We describe the clinical and imaging features of GI fistulas and outline the interventional management of GI fistulas.
Drainage ; Gastric Fistula/diagnosis/radiography/*therapy ; Humans ; Intestinal Fistula/diagnosis/radiography/*therapy ; Punctures ; *Radiography, Interventional

Primary aortoenteric fistula (PAEF) is a rare but catastrophic cause of gastrointestinal bleeding. The diagnosis of PAEF is difficult to make. The classic triad of symptoms, i.e. gastrointestinal bleeding, abdominal pain, and a pulsating abdominal mass is overemphasized, as it occurs in less than 11~25% of the patients. For two thirds of the patients, the diagnosis is made in the operating room. Endoscopic and radiographic studies are very helpful, but the absence of abnormalities can not exclude the diagnosis. PAEF is a clinical and surgical challenge associated with high mortality. A high index of suspicion, early diagnosis and prompt and appropriate surgical intervention are essential to patient survival. Two primary aortoenteric fistulas (aortoduodenal and aortoesophageal) cases are presented and the related literature are reviewed.
Abdominal Pain ; Aorta, Abdominal ; Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal ; Early Diagnosis ; Fistula ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Intestinal Fistula ; Operating Rooms ; Vascular Fistula

Pelvic fistulas may result from obstetric complications, inflammatory bowel disease, pelvic malignancy, pelvic radiation therapy, pelvic surgery, or other traumatic causes, and their symptoms may be distressing. In our experience, various types of pelvic fistulas are identified after pelvic disease or pelvic surgery. Because of its close proximity, the majority of such fistulas occur in the pelvic cavity and include the vesicovaginal, vesicouterine, vesicoenteric, ureterovaginal, ureteroenteric and enterovaginal type. The purpose of this article is to illustrate the spectrum of imaging features of pelvic fistulas.
Bladder Fistula/diagnosis/etiology ; Female ; Fistula/*diagnosis/*etiology ; Human ; Intestinal Fistula/diagnosis/etiology ; *Pelvis ; Ureteral Diseases/diagnosis/etiology ; Urinary Fistula/diagnosis/etiology ; Uterine Diseases/diagnosis/etiology ; Vaginal Fistula/diagnosis/etiology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the diagnosis and treatment of patients with Crohn disease (CD) complicated with gastrointestinal fistulae.

METHODSClinical data of sixty-two cases with CD complicated with gastrointestinal fistula e from 1978 to 2004 were analyzed.

RESULTSThese were 68 external fistulae in 6 2 patients including recurrent fistulae in 6 cases, internal fistulae in 8 cases . Twenty- seven fistulae were located in the terminal ileum and 21 fistulae wer e located in ileocolic anastomosis site. The main surgery included 14 ileocecal resections with primary anastomosis and 26 resections of original ileocolic anastomosis with fistula and re-anastomosis. The incidence of recurrence was lower (15.4% ) in patients with postoperative medication including sulfasalazine and immunomodulator than that (34.8% ) in patients without postoperative immunomodulator,but the recurrence time was longer [(40+/- 17) months] in patients with postoperative medication than that [(8+/- 3)months] in the patients without postoperative specific medication.

CONCLUSIONSMost CD fistulae are external fistulae,most of the external fistulae are treated by resection of the fistula and anastomosis. Specific medication including sulfasalazine,mesalamine and immunomodulators should be used to prevent postoperative complications and CD recurrence.

Adult ; Crohn Disease ; complications ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Intestinal Fistula ; complications ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo investigate the value of CT and X-ray enterography in the diagnosis of small intestinal Crohn disease(CD).

METHODSData of 39 CD cases confirmed by surgery and pathology who underwent CT and X-ray enterography were analyzed retrospectively. All the patients had complete CT data, 28 cases had X-ray intestinal barium meal data, and 18 had sinus tract enterography.

RESULTSCT enterography showed mural thickening(>4 mm) in 34(87.2%) patients, mural gas in 7(17.9%), mural edema in 7(17.9%), mural fat in 4(10.3%), increased enhancement of bowel wall(>10 HU) in 37(94.9%), multiple segmental lesions in 33(84.6%), single segmental lesions in 6(15.4%), mesenteric lymphadenopathy(>5 mm) in 13(33.3%), vascular bundle thickening in 9(23.1%), cellulitis in 12(30.8%), peritoneal abscess in 10(25.6%), phlegmon in 8(20.5%), incomplete intestinal obstruction in 14(35.9%), seroperitoneum in 22(56.4%), and fistulization in 4(10.3%). CT enterography did not demonstrate the change of mucosa such as strip ulcer or cobblestone. Among the 28 cases of small bowel X-ray enterography, 23 cases(82.1%) presented with multiple segmental lesions, 5(17.9%) with single segmental lesions, 18(64.3%) with strip ulcer, 16(57.1%) with cobblestones, 4(14.3%) with intestinal fistula, while no bowel wall and extraintestinal complication of CD disease was observed. Among the 18 cases of sinus tract enterography, 13 cases (72.2%) presented with intestinal fistula, 12(66.7%) with peritoneal abscess, 8(44.4%) with sinus tract.

CONCLUSIONSCT enterography can demonstrate exactly the diseased bowel wall and extraintestinal complication of CD disease, which is important to evaluate the extent of CD and guide the treatment, however strip ulcer and cobblestone sign cannot be demonstrated. The X-ray enterography is available to demonstrate the characteristic changes of CD such as trip ulcers and cobblestones, but is difficult to show the bowel wall and extraintestinal inflammatory mass and abscesses. The sinus tract enterography is easy to demonstrate the intestinal fistula and intra-abdominal abscess. Combination of these methods is more beneficial to guild the diagnosis and treatment.

Abdominal Abscess ; Crohn Disease ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Intestinal Fistula ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; X-Rays

Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal ; surgery ; Endovascular Procedures ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Intestinal Fistula ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Male ; Middle Aged

In Crohn's disease, neurologic complications such as cerebrovascular accident, headache, peripheral neuropathy have been reported sporadically. The pathogenesis of these neurologic complications is still unknown and controversial. We experienced a 22-year-old man, with Crohn's disease accompanied by optic neuritis. Loss of visual acuity was developed during the worsening course of enterocutaneous fistula. After high dose steroid treatment, his visual acuity and neurologic symptoms improved immediately.
Adult ; Crohn Disease/*complications/drug therapy/pathology ; Humans ; Intestinal Fistula/complications ; Male ; Optic Neuritis/*complications/diagnosis

Arterio-enteric fistula is a very rare cause of massive lower gastrointestinal hemorrhage. We report here on a case of massive hematochezia caused by iliac arterio-colic fistula in a 60-year-old woman who had a recent history of spinal surgery for herniated nucleus pulposus. Abdomen computed tomography showed the extravasation of radiocontrast media from right iliac artery encased by an intraabdominal abscess into the adjacent dilatated colon. Also, diagnostic angiography revealed the active extravasation of radiocontrast media via a fistula between right iliac artery and colon. Although successful endovascular exclusion of the fistula with stent graft and coils was performed, disseminated intravascular coagulation and multi-organ failure were developed.
Colonic Diseases/complications/*diagnosis ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage/*etiology ; Humans ; Iliac Artery/*radiography ; Intestinal Fistula/complications/*diagnosis ; Middle Aged ; Stents ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Vascular Fistula/complications/*diagnosis