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Published on: April 7, 2015

Aortic rupture due to pneumococcal infection in aortoiliac stents

Amélie Mlynski1, Pierre Mordant, Guillaume Dufour

  • 1Service de Chirurgie Vasculaire et Thoracique, Hôpital Bichat, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Université Paris 7, Paris, France.

Journal of Vascular Surgery
|April 19, 2011
PubMed

Insights

A rare case of pneumococcal aortitis caused by infected stents led to aortic rupture. Prompt surgical intervention and antibiotics achieved a favorable outcome, highlighting the need for high suspicion in similar cases.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Surgical Innovation

Background:

  • Endovascular stent implantation is a common procedure for aortoiliac disease.
  • Infection of bare-metal stents is a rare but serious complication.
  • Microbial aortitis poses a significant threat to patient survival.

Observation:

  • A 70-year-old male presented with back pain one year post-aortoiliac kissing stent implantation.
  • Diagnosis revealed pneumococcal aortitis secondary to Streptococcus pneumoniae infection of the stents.
  • The infection resulted in a contained aortic rupture.

Findings:

  • Urgent surgical treatment was required, including extra-anatomic revascularization and infected tissue excision.
  • Appropriate antibiotic therapy was crucial for managing the infection.
  • The patient experienced a favorable outcome following the comprehensive treatment approach.

Implications:

  • This case underscores the importance of considering stent infection in patients with delayed symptoms after endovascular procedures.
  • A high index of suspicion is critical for early diagnosis and management of microbial aortitis.
  • Prompt and aggressive treatment is essential to reduce the high mortality associated with this condition.

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