Aorto-caval fistula - case report.

Aorto-caval fistula can be associated with abdominal aortic aneurysm. The fistula can manifest with nonspecific symptoms. The rupture of abdominal aortic aneurysm is one of the leading symptoms. The symptoms and the necessity of treatment are related to these acute conditions. This article describes the case of a 78 years old man with a huge abdominal aortic aneurysm and aorto-caval fistula that was presented with a sudden onset of abdominal pain, dyspnoea, hypotension and cardiac insufficiency with an acute cor pulmonale. Urgent surgery was performed - aneurysm resection with transaortic suture of the fistula and aortic replacement using a Dacron graft. Resuscitation and defibrillation were needed during the surgery due to fibrillation cardiac arrest, which were successful. The post-operative period was complicated with a persisting consciousness disorder of the patient and persisting myocardial ischaemia, resulting in the patients death 3 weeks after the surgery. The aim of this report is to point out the severity of this condition, the various treatment options of this uncommon disease with an uncertain prognosis, and also the importance of a multidisciplinary approach, essential in the entire treatment process as well as in the primary diagnosis.