Conventional or Endovascular Treatment of Ongoing Mycotic Aortic Aneurysmal Disease?

Abstract

We report a case in which conventional and endovascular exclusion techniques were used to treat ongoing mycotic aortic aneurysmal disease. A 51-year-old man presented with an infrarenal mycotic aortic aneurysm that was excluded and reconstructed with a superficial femoral vein. Two years later, he developed a symptomatic mycotic aneurysm of the descending thoracic aorta, which required emergent treatment with a stent graft. The patient died 5 months later of massive bleeding owing to an aortobronchial fistula deriving from a new thoracic aneurysm proximal to the stent graft. Choices and different modes of treatment are discussed. Endovascular treatment of symptomatic mycotic aortic aneurysm might provide a valid alternative to open repair but may be unsuccessful owing to ongoing infection. In situ replacement using autologous material seems appealing whenever feasible.