title: Advantages of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography combined with computed tomography in detecting post cardiac surgery infections.
abstract: The 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography combined with computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) offers an excellent negative predictive value. Consequently, it is a reliable tool for excluding an infectious phenomenon in case of negativity. In case of persistent fever of unknown origin after cardiac surgery and in combination with other bacteriological examinations and medical imaging, we can rely on FDG-PET/CT to confirm or eliminate deep infections and prosthetic endocarditis. For this reason, FDG-PET/CT should be considered among the examinations to be performed in case of suspected infection after cardiac surgery. We have reported the case of a 76-year-old man who presented with a fever of unknown origin and recurrent septic shocks after a biological Bentall procedure combined with left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery revascularization by the left internal thoracic artery. We performed a FDG-PET/CT which showed external iliac vein and right common femoral vein hyperfixation with infiltration of adjacent soft tissues, highly suspected to be an infectious process.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this case report is to show that FDG-PET/CT, in combination with other bacteriological examinations and medical imaging, can be extremely helpful in detecting deep infectious sources, even during the early postoperative period.
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Department, Hospital Center of Vichy.
authors.forename: Djamel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Adjtoutah
authors.affiliation: Heart Surgery Department, University Hospital Center of Clermont-Ferrand.
authors.forename: Alaa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Azhari
authors.affiliation: Heart Surgery Department, University Hospital Center of Clermont-Ferrand.
authors.forename: Youcef
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Larabi
authors.affiliation: Heart Surgery Department, University Hospital Center of Clermont-Ferrand.
authors.forename: Enrica
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dorigo
authors.affiliation: Nuclear Medicine Department, Jean Perrin Cancer Center, Clermont-Ferrand.
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Merlin
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Department, Hospital Center of Vichy.
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Marcaggi
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Department, Hospital Center of Vichy.
authors.forename: Armel Simplice
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Nana
authors.affiliation: Heart Surgery Department, University Hospital Center of Clermont-Ferrand.
authors.forename: Lionel
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Camilleri
authors.affiliation: Heart Surgery Department, University Hospital Center of Clermont-Ferrand.
authors.forename: Kasra
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Azarnoush
keywords: Aortic root replacement; Computed tomography; Positron emission tomography; Surgery complications