Mycotic aortic aneurysm: A case of an unlikely location and an unlikely pathogen

Heart Lung Circ. 2011 Mar;20(3):193-6. doi: 10.1016/j.hlc.2010.08.006. Epub 2010 Sep 18.

Abstract

This is an unusual case of a mycotic aortic aneurysm located in the ascending aorta caused by Neisseria meningitidis. The diagnosis was made using two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) transoesophageal echocardiogram (TOE) and cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR). Management was with prolonged antibiotics followed by surgical resection. The ascending aorta was replaced with Dacron tube graft. The contribution of multimodality imaging in clearly defining the pathology, its location and directing the timing of surgery, was a striking aspect of this case.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aneurysm, Infected / diagnosis*
  • Aneurysm, Infected / microbiology
  • Aneurysm, Infected / surgery*
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / administration & dosage
  • Aorta
  • Aortic Aneurysm / diagnosis*
  • Aortic Aneurysm / microbiology
  • Aortic Aneurysm / surgery*
  • Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation
  • Blood Vessel Prosthesis*
  • Echocardiography, Transesophageal / methods
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Angiography / methods
  • Male
  • Meningococcal Infections / diagnosis*
  • Meningococcal Infections / microbiology
  • Meningococcal Infections / surgery*
  • Neisseria meningitidis*

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents