Alternative surgical strategy for the treatment of a mycotic aortic arch aneurysm

Tex Heart Inst J. 2006;33(3):356-8.

Abstract

We report the case of a 69-year-old man who presented with a symptomatic mycotic aneurysm of the aortic arch. Diagnosis was confirmed by positron emission tomography and by blood cultures positive for Salmonella species. A complete resection of the aortic arch process was performed via left thoracotomy using a cryopreserved aortic homograft and normothermic left heart bypass. The left-sided cerebral vessels were clamped, and adequacy of collateral left brain flow and oxygenation was confirmed by neurophysiologic monitoring. Using this less-invasive operative strategy, we avoided the risks inherent to deep hypothermic circulatory arrest and the use of prosthetic materials.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aneurysm, Infected / diagnostic imaging
  • Aneurysm, Infected / surgery*
  • Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic / diagnostic imaging
  • Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic / surgery*
  • Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation / methods*
  • Cryopreservation*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Positron-Emission Tomography
  • Thoracotomy
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed