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Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 1999; 47(5): 335-337
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-1013169
Case Report

© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Aorta-Cutaneous Fistula as a Rare Complication of Localized Chronic Mediastinitis

A. Panos, A. Kalangos, N. Murith, B. Faidutti
  • Division of Cardiovascular Surgery, Department of Surgery, University Hospital of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
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Publication History

1998

Publication Date:
19 March 2008 (online)

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Abstract

A 35-year-old man was admitted 5 years after congenital heart surgery complicated by Staphylococcus aureus and a cutaneous fistula located at the left fourth intercostal space. He was febrile (40°C), suffering from sternal pain and suppuration from the old fistula. During examination arterial blood suddenly discharged from the fistula, so that surgery was immediately instituted. An infected Dacron tube implanting on the ascending aortafor a central aorto-pulmonary shunt was at the origin of a false aneurysm: this had led to the repeat formation of an aorta-cutaneous fistula and outbreak of external bleeding.

Key words

Chronic mediastinitis - Aorto-cutaneous fistula - Ascending aorta