title: Mycotic Intracranial Aneurysm Secondary to Left Ventricular Assist Device Infection.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Mycotic aneurysms are a complication of infective endocarditis. Infection of left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) may lead to bacteremia and fever causing complications similar to those seen in patients with prosthetic valve endocarditis. Intracranial mycotic aneurysms are rare, and their presence is signaled by the development of subarachnoid hemorrhage in the setting of bacteremia and aneurysms located distal to the circle of Willis.
  
  
  METHODS
  We present the case of a patient with a LVAD presenting with headache who is found to have an intracranial mycotic aneurysm through computed tomography angiography of the head. The patient was successfully treated with endovascular intervention.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In patients with LVADs, mycotic aneurysms have been reported, however not intracranially. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first intracranial mycotic aneurysm secondary to LVAD infection that was successfully treated with endovascular repair. Intracranial mycotic aneurysms associated with LVADs are a rare phenomenon. The diagnosis of mycotic aneurysms requires a high index of suspicion in patients who present with bacteremia with or without headache and other neurological symptoms.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  None.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, El Paso, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Juan M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Remirez
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, El Paso, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Yasmin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sabet
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, El Paso, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Marshall
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Baca
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, El Paso, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maud
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, El Paso, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Salvador
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cruz-Flores
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, El Paso, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Gustavo J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Rodriguez
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, El Paso, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Debabrata
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mukherjee
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, El Paso, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Aamer
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abbas
keywords: Mycotic aneurysm; bacteremia; left ventricular assist device (LVAD)