Surgical strategy for treating mycotic aneurysms of thoracic and abdominal aorta and iliac artery: Analysis of long-term follow-up data

Mycotic aneurysms of the aorta and iliac arteries are rare, but life-threatening conditions. We reviewed our experience to determine the best surgical strategy. Between 2007 and 2015, we operated 14 patients with mycotic aneurysms of the aortic arch (n  =  6), descending aorta (n  =  1), thoracoabdominal aorta (n  =  2), abdominal aorta (n  =  4), and iliac artery (n  =  1). The mean age was 70.4  ±  8.8 years, and 10 males were included. Blood culture, tissue culture, or both were positive in 11 patients. Four of five patients with mycotic aneurysms of the abdominal aorta and iliac artery underwent extra-anatomical bypass. Ten underwent in-situ graft replacement for managing mycotic aneurysms of the thoracic aorta. One patient with a mycotic thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm underwent visceral bypass of the descending aorta and extra-anatomical bypass. Omental pedicle grafting was performed in 10 patients. The mean follow-up period was 8.6  ±  3.1 years. Three patients (21.4%) died. Recurrent infection was observed in one patient with a mycotic aneurysm of iliac artery three months after the initial surgery. The patient underwent extra-anatomical bypass with omental pedicle grafting as a redo. Nine patients were discharged, and no recurrence of infection was observed. Two patients died of cancer and heart failure. The five- and seven-year survival rates were 100% ± 0.0% and 85.7% ± 13.2%, respectively. A combination of radical debridement of the infectious source and omental pedicle grafting with either in-situ graft replacement or extra-anatomical bypass is an effective strategy.