[Infectious aneurysm of the abdominal aorta and Salmonella septicemia. Favorable development over 2 years of a case treated by resection and axillobifemoral bypass].

A 57 years old man had a two months history of chills and fever with abdominal pain. Blood cultures were positive for Salmonella ohio. He suddenly became hypotensive with oedema of lower limbs. Angiographic findings were infrarenal aortic rupture with pseudoaneurysm formation and inferior vena cava compression. After ligation of the aorta and both common iliac arteries, an axillo-bi-femoral graft was constructed to bypass the infection area. Subsequent occurrence of lumbar osteomyelitis required debridement and drainage of retroperitoneum. The patient was discharged on oral amoxicilline given for eleven months. Two years postoperatively he is able to walk without evidence of further infection. With a review of 32 other cases in the literature, emphasis is placed on theories of pathogenesis and on modes of surgical management.