Mycotic pseudoaneurysm of the brachiocephalic artery

A 73-year-old woman with a history of hypertension and hyperlipidemia presented with a sharp pain ranging from the right shoulder to the upper limb. She had suffered a sharp pain at rest accompanied by general fatigue and nausea for about ten months prior to admission. Her white blood cell count was 12,800/microl, and her serum C-reactive protein was 17.5 mg/dl. A chest computed tomography scan revealed an aneurysmal change of the origin of the brachiocephalic artery. Pseudoaneurysm due to infection and aortic dissection was considered as a preoperative diagnosis. A total arch replacement was performed under cardiopulmonary bypass, deep hypothermia, and selective cerebral perfusion. Postoperatively, a bacteriologic culture of the contents of the aneurysm revealed Staphylococcus aureus. Perioperative administration of antibiotics was effective and the postoperative course was uneventful.