Sudden fatal bleeding from a uretero-arterial fistula combined with pre-existing uretero-colic and uretero-vaginal fistulas 7 years after a cervical cancer surgery: a case report

Abstract Background Uretero-arterial fistulas (UAFs) are a rare cause of hematuria and could be fatal often due to a diagnostic delay despite recent advances in the treatment modalities. Case presentation A 52-year-old woman with a history of advanced cervical cancer developed a fever and was diagno...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Hiroki Yamazaki, Toru Nakamura, Yoshiro Otsuki, Mitsuteru Tsuchiya, Takashi Hamano, Hiroshi Adachi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Japan Surgical Society 2019-05-01
Series:Surgical Case Reports
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Online Access:http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40792-019-0642-5
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Summary:Abstract Background Uretero-arterial fistulas (UAFs) are a rare cause of hematuria and could be fatal often due to a diagnostic delay despite recent advances in the treatment modalities. Case presentation A 52-year-old woman with a history of advanced cervical cancer developed a fever and was diagnosed with a left uretero-colic fistula. She also had a uretero-vaginal fistula and suffered from repeated urinary tract infections over 6 years. While waiting for an elective colostomy, she developed sudden perineal bleeding and died 14 h after the onset. The autopsy findings revealed that bleeding from a newly developed UAF spreads out to the extracorporeal space through the pre-existing fistulas. Conclusions Bleeding from a UAF complicated by other uretero-genital and/or uretero-enteric fistulas could proceed rapidly resulting in a fatal outcome because of a lack of a tamponade effect. Early recognition of a UAF in high-risk patients is crucial for a prompt diagnosis, which might lead to a treatment success.
ISSN:2198-7793