Pelvic radiation therapy as a potential risk factor for ischemic colitis complicating abdominal aortic reconstruction

Abstract A 78-year-old male with a 56 mm juxtarenal aneurysm and previous pelvic radiotherapy treatment for prostate cancer (3 years earlier) and who was disease-free during follow-up received elective aorto-aortic by-pass suprarenal clamping through a transperitoneal approach. After the patient experienced initial abdominal pain and diarrhea, a CT scan showed mild sigmoid inflammation, and the patient received conservative treatment. One month after discharge, the patient received an urgent laparotomy and bowel/sigmoid resection for an enteric-cutaneous fistula. At 6 months follow-up, he has recovered, although a bowel stoma remains.