Fatal gastrointestinal bleeding from an aortic pseudo-aneurysm in a patient with oesophageal perforation and Salmonella mediastinitis

Abstract

We report a quite unusual case of fatal bleeding from an aortic pseudo-aneurysm. The probable sequence was swallowing of a foreign body, oesophageal perforation, mediastinitis and aortic pseudo-aneurysm formation.

In our case, the oesophageal stent placement together with antibiotic treatment contributed to healing of mediastinitis but did not prevent fatal bleeding from the aortic pseudo-aneurysm.

Keywords

• oesophageal perforation
• Salmonella mediastinitis
• aortic pseudo-aneurysm
• fatal gastrointestinal bleeding