Mycotic aortic aneurysm caused by haemophilus influenzae group F.

BACKGROUND

Haemophilus influenzae is a rare cause of mycotic aortic aneurysm. We present a case of H. influenzae mycotic aortic aneurysm, which was complicated by prior endovascular stent-graft placement at another facility.

METHODS

A 58 year-old man was treated by endograft placement for a presumed penetrating aortic ulcer after having symptoms of abdominal pain and malaise for one month. He presented to our institution 11 days after endograft placement with septic physiology. Repeat computed tomography angiogram demonstrated an inflammatory mass around the distal aorta and right common iliac artery, which had an associated contained rupture.

RESULTS

The patient was treated using intravenous antibiotics, axillo-bifemoral bypass followed by endograft explantation and aortic and iliac ligation. Intraoperative cultures grew Haemophilus influenzae, serotype f.

CONCLUSIONS

Aortic endografts have been successfully used for treatment of selected mycotic aneurysms, generally after adequate treatment of the primary infection with intravenous antibiotics. This case demonstrates the unfavorable natural history of endograft placement in an unsuspected mycotic aneurysm. A high index of suspicion for possible aortic infection should be maintained for patients with systemic symptoms and unusual aortic pathology prior to choosing endovascular repair.