title: Endovascular treatment of mycotic aortic pseudoaneurysms with stent-grafts.
abstract: Mycotic aortic aneurysms remain a therapeutic challenge, especially in patients who are not suitable for open surgery. Endovascular treatment with stent-grafts in this indication is still disputed. Between January 2002 and January 2006, six patients with mycotic aneurysms of the thoracoabdominal or abdominal aorta were admitted to our department. All patients were male, aged 57-83 years (mean, 74.6 years). The mycotic aneurysms were diagnosed on the basis of clinical signs of infection, on CT, and, in four cases, on a positive blood culture. In all patients the mycotic aortic aneurysms were treated endovascularly by stent-graft implantation. Technical and clinical success was achieved in all patients. There was no in-hospital or 30-day mortality. In the follow-up period (range, 2-47 months) four patients died of cancer, cardiac failure, or unknown cause (one case). Two patients are still alive with nearly complete regression of the aneurysms. We conclude that treatment of mycotic aortic aneurysms with stent-grafts may be an alternative in selected patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Surgery, University Hospital, Auenbruggerplatz 29, 8036 Graz, Austria. kurt.tiesenhausen@meduni-graz.at
authors.forename: Kurt
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tiesenhausen
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hessinger
authors.forename: Maurice
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tomka
authors.forename: Horst
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Portugaller
authors.forename: Shota
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Swanidze
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Oberwalder
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017541:Aneurysm, False / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000382:microbiology / Q000601:surgery*; D000785:Aneurysm, Infected / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D000792:Angiography / Q000379:methods; D017130:Angioplasty / Q000379:methods* / Q000401:mortality; D001014:Aortic Aneurysm / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation / Q000379:methods* / Q000401:mortality; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D015607:Stents; D015996:Survival Rate; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome