Endovascular treatment of late post-traumatic aorto-caval fistula: Case report

Abstract

Aortocaval fistulas are rare entities with different etiologies. A minority of them are consequent to post-traumatic events. The clinic in these cases may be acute or delayed. The later manifest themselves days, weeks or years after the trauma mainly as congestive heart failure. Its treatment can be done by open surgery or endovascular approach. The present case it is a 53 year old man who presented, 27 years after a stab wound in the abdomen, important signs of congestive heart failure, manifested as palpitations and dyspnea, paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, besides of dissenting blood pressure and bruit in the epigastrium. Angiotomography confirmed the diagnosis of aorto-caval fistula and proceeded to endovascular treatment for fistula repair. The patient, according with control after three months, showed a satisfactory outcome, with significant improvement of the condition and appropriate control of heart failure.