Mycotic aneurysm of the infrarenal aorta: surgical possibilities and results]

Between 1973 and 1990 eleven patients with mycotic aneurysm of the abdominal aorta underwent surgery. Extra-anatomic axillobifemoral bypass with aortic ligation and aneurysm excision was performed in 5 patients, and in situ reconstruction in 6. There were 3 early and 3 late deaths. Regardless of the type of operation, surgery of mycotic aneurysm is followed by severe postoperative complications with high the early and the late mortality rates.     

Mycotic abdominal aortic aneurysm: a case report

A case of mycotic aneurysm of the abdominal aorta, arising as a complication of subacute bacterial endocarditis in a 75-year-old white woman, is presented. The dramatically expansile nature of this aneurysm is well documented. The history, clinical presentation, etiology, microbiology and surgical management of this rapidly progressive and often fatal condition are discussed through a review of the literature.     

Mycotic aneurysm in a digital artery: case report and literature review

A mycotic aneurysm of the common digital artery at its junction with the palmar arch, extending into the ulnar proper digital artery of the index finger, is reported in a patient with endocarditis. A review of the English-language literature revealed no case of mycotic aneurysm in a digital artery. Diagnosis of the aneurysm was established noninvasively by ultrasound. Because this patient lacked a radial proper digital artery to the finger, the aneurysm was managed by excision and revascularization with a bypass graft from the long finger. Postoperative circulatory monitoring was facilitated by a pulse oximeter.     

Dissecting aneurysm of the infrarenal abdominal aorta

The aim of this study was to report the case of a patient with chronic dissecting infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) and to review the literature for this rare vascular disorder. The preoperative assessment, surgical treatment, and postoperative course of a patient with a dissecting AAA and associated left iliac artery dissection were analyzed. The literature is reviewed with respect to etiology and pathogenesis as well as diagnostic and therapeutic management of infrarenal dissecting AAA. The preoperative diagnosis of dissecting infrarenal AAA was made by computed tomography and aortography and confirmed during surgery. Successful repair was accomplished by use of a bifurcated aortobiiliacal Dacron graft. A review of the literature demonstrates the rarity of dissecting aneurysm exclusively involving the infrarenal aortic segment. Primary dissecting aneurysm of the infrarenal abdominal aorta is a rare morphologic finding. Principles of diagnostic and therapeutic management of common atherosclerotic AAA also apply to dissecting AAA.     

Mycotic aneurysm of the extracranial carotid artery: a case report and review of the literature

Aneurysm of the extracranial carotid artery is a rare condition; mycotic aneurysms are even less common. They always need surgical treatment to prevent possible rupture, embolisation or death. The literature before 1980 mentions ligation as the only treatment for mycotic aneurysms of the carotid artery, obviously with a high morbidity and mortality rate. We describe an 85-year-old male with a left carotid artery mycotic aneurysm. He presented with a history of Transient Ischaemic Attack (TIA) four weeks after a gastrointestinal infection. Resection of the aneurysm and interposition with autologous vein was performed. Escherichia coli was isolated from the excised tissue. Primary resection of the aneurysm with autologous vein interposition, in association with prolonged antibiotic therapy, is the preferred strategy. Prompt diagnosis and aggressive treatment is essential to prevent serious complications.     

Atheroembolic syndrome due to isolated infrarenal abdominal aorta stenosis and endovascular treatment: case report and review of literature

One of the most common source of lower extremity atheroembolization is the aorta and particularly the infrarenal segment. Complex atherosclerotic plaque can lead the patient to gangrene and major amputation. When the origin of embolization is a focal lesion, endoluminal methods could be an alternative to surgical treatment. Although the experience with aortic stent is limited, the results obtained so far seem to be encouraging. The case of a mid-age heavy smoker woman with a history of the abrupt onset of painfull cyanotic toes in the left foot and subsequent complete gangrene of the first digit in the same foot is herein reported. Angiography and CT scan revealed an high-grade calcified aortic infrarenal plaque. Because of the discrete characteristic of the lesion, an endovascular approach with a Palmaz stent was elected. The stenosis was successfully treated: the patient experienced the complete resolution of the toe painfull cyanosis within 3 months, the stent remained patent through a 24 months follow-up and no subsequent embolic episodes were observed.     

Mycotic aneurysm of the tibioperoneal trunk: case report and review of the literature.

Peripheral mycotic aneurysms can occur when septic emboli lodge in either the lumen or the vasa vasorum of a peripheral vessel. Such aneurysms have become rare after the widespread use of aggressive antibiotic treatment for bacterial endocarditis. We report the case of a large mycotic aneurysm of the tibioperoneal trunk 18 months after an episode of Streptococcus viridans bacterial endocarditis. Treatment included complete resection of the aneurysmal sac with restoration of circulation to the posterior tibial artery with a reversed saphenous vein graft. To our knowledge, this is the first case of a mycotic aneurysm of the tibioperoneal trunk reported in the English literature. It also represents the first case in which a mycotic aneurysm of an infrapopliteal vessel was managed successfully with restoration of circulation.     

Mycotic aneurysm of the suprarenal abdominal aorta.

We report on the successful treatment of a patient with a mycotic aneurysm of the suprarenal aorta. The aorta was resected and reconstructed using an in-situ polytetrafluoroethylene graft with a side arm branch to the left renal artery. The use of polytetrafluoroethylene graft for aortic reconstruction after suprarenal mycotic aneurysm resection has not been previously reported. The etiology, bacteriology, diagnosis, and principles of management of mycotic aneurysms of the suprarenal aorta are discussed.     

Aortoesophageal fistula caused by aneurysm of the thoracic aorta: successful surgical treatment, case report, and literature review

Aortoesophageal fistula induced by atherosclerotic thoracic aortic aneurysm is rare, but is usually a fatal disorder, with few survivors reported. We report the case of a 72-year-old man with aortoesophageal fistula successfully treated in a two-stage operation. In the first stage, we performed resection and replacement of the aortic aneurysm with a prosthetic graft in situ, esophagectomy, cervical esophagostomy, and jejunostomy. After the patient recovered well postoperatively, a transmediastinal retrosternal interposition of the stomach was performed, with esophagogastroanastomosis in the cervical area, to re-establish the gastrointestinal tract. We include a discussion of the causes, diagnostic approach, management of the aorta and esophagus, and review of the literature.     

Successful management of a ruptured infected aneurysm of the thoracic aorta: report of a case

A successful removal of the infected thoracic aortic aneurysm ruptured to the lung is reported. A 59-year-old man who had been suffering from high fever showed sudden hemoptysis and shock during antibiotic therapy. Immediately a so-called temporary bypass grafting from ascending aorta to descending aorta was placed with a woven Dacron prosthesis, and then aneurysmectomy with upper lobectomy of the left lung was carried out. Finally the graft was left as a permanent bypass graft. In addition, the left subclavian artery was reconstructed with a EPTFE graft. The patient is now well one year after operation.     

Thrombosis of the abdominal aorta in a newborn: case report and review of literature

The case of a newborn infant who presented thrombosis in the abdominal portion of the aorta, which resulted in the complete occlusion is reported. Diagnosis was made using Doppler echocardiography. The initial therapeutic approach was clinical support, but as the thrombi started to increase in size (secondary thrombosis) and evolved to the infrarenal terminal aorta, anticoagulation with heparin was indicated. The total disappearance of both the secondary thrombosis and the embolus was evidenced by a subsequent echocardiography after the anticoagulation therapy.     

Delayed paraplegia following infrarenal abdominal aortic endograft placement: case report and literature review

The treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) has changed over the past 12 years, with increased numbers of endovascular procedures being performed. Early morbidity is decreased following endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) compared with open repair, and long-term studies of EVAR have focused on freedom from death, rupture, and conversion to open repair. Other less commonly encountered complications of EVAR are rarely reported. For instance, spinal cord ischemia (SCI) is a devastating complication infrequently seen after open AAA repair. This report discusses a case of delayed paraplegia after EVAR and reviews the pertinent literature. The incidence of SCI after EVAR is similar to open repair, but the mechanisms may be different. Atheroembolization and occlusion of pelvic inflow appear to be the predominant etiologies for SCI after EVAR. Careful consideration of the potential for SCI should be made in elderly patients undergoing EVAR, particularly if difficult arterial anatomy is present.     

Nocardia asteroides-infected aneurysm of the aorta: case report and review of the literature

Infected aneurysms of the aorta were first described as a result of septic emboli or contiguous spread from bacterial endocarditis and are usually caused by Staphylococcus or Salmonella species. We report a case of Nocardia-associated infected aneurysm of the native suprarenal aorta in an immunocompromised host. Surgical management consisted of placement of an interposition cryopreserved aortic homograft. Nocardia asteroides was identified on a microbiology specimen of the aorta and both microbiology and pathology specimens of the splenic tissue. To the best of our knowledge, this represents the first carefully documented, unique case of a Nocardia-infected aneurysm treated with homograft interposition. In addition, pathologic and microbiologic data are included from the postmortem examination 10 months later.     

Brucella spondylitis complicated by an infected abdominal aortic aneurysm and deep venous thrombosis: case report and review of the literature

Brucellosis is a common zoonosis, which still remains as a major health problem in certain parts of the world. Spondylodiscitis is the most frequent osteoarticular complication of brucellosis. Herein is reported an uncommon case of a middle-aged male treated for brucellosis who developed 2 years after the treatment brucellar spondylodiscitis complicated by a psoas muscle abscess, an infected abdominal aorta aneurysm and deep venous thrombosis of IVC, common iliac, external iliac and common femoral veins. CT and CT angiography were the imaging modalities depicting the findings. After an endovascular stent graft placement in abdominal aorta aneurysm, a CT guided drainage of retroperitoneal abscess revealed Brucella melitensis as the pathogen microorganism. Diagnosis of spondylodiscitis and contiguous psoas abscess is usually simple but aortic involvement is difficult to identify and can be easily overlooked. A high degree of suspicion is essential to reduce the delay for the treatment.