Endovascular management of a mycotic group A streptococcal abdominal aortic dissection

John Colville1, Manmohan Madan2, Khalid Bashaeb1

  • 1Radiology, Royal Oldham Hospital, Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, Oldham, UK.

BJR Case Reports
|October 27, 2018
PubMed

Insights

A rare case of spontaneous abdominal aortic dissection caused by group A hemolytic streptococcus infection is presented. This unusual presentation highlights the importance of considering infectious causes for aortic emergencies.

Area of Science:

  • Vascular Surgery
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Cardiology

Background:

  • Pyrexia of unknown origin presents diagnostic challenges.
  • Group A hemolytic streptococcus is an uncommon cause of serious infections.

Observation:

  • A patient presented with fever, abdominal, and back pain.
  • Blood cultures revealed group A hemolytic streptococcus.
  • CT scans identified an inflammatory infrarenal abdominal aortic dissection.

Findings:

  • The patient was diagnosed with spontaneous abdominal aortic dissection secondary to group A hemolytic streptococcus infection.
  • This represents a previously unreported association in medical literature.
  • Successful treatment involved intravenous antibiotics and endovascular repair.

Implications:

  • Highlights the importance of considering infectious etiologies in aortic dissections.
  • Emphasizes the need for clinician awareness regarding unusual presentations of aortic emergencies.
  • Demonstrates the efficacy of endovascular repair in managing complex aortic dissections.

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