Infectious Aortitis of Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm From Clostridium Septicum

Samuel Jessula; Travis D Hull; Eric M Isselbacher; Tiffany Bellomo; Brian Ghoshhajra; Anahita Dua; Matthew J Eagleton; Jahan Mohebali; Arminder S Jassar; Nikolaos Zacharias

doi:10.1016/j.jaccas.2023.101783

Infectious Aortitis of Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm From Clostridium Septicum

JACC Case Rep. 2023 Mar 15:10:101783. doi: 10.1016/j.jaccas.2023.101783.

Affiliations

¹ Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
² Corrigan Minehan Heart Center and Division of Cardiac Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
³ Thoracic Aortic Center and Cardiology Division, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
⁴ Cardiac MR PET CT Program, Department of Radiology and Division of Cardiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.

Abstract

A 71-year-old male presented with 1-day history of back pain. Imaging displayed an enlarging thoracic aortic aneurysm with gas in the aortic wall. Blood cultures grew Clostridium septicum. He underwent resection, debridement, and in situ aortic replacement with a rifampin-soaked graft under deep hypothermic circulatory arrest. His recovery was uncomplicated. (Level of Difficulty: Beginner.).

Keywords: Clostridium septicum; infectious aortitis; mycotic thoracic aortic aneurysm.

Publication types

Case Reports