Outcomes of Open Repair of Mycotic Descending Thoracic and Thoracoabdominal Aortic Aneurysms

Abstract

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the short- and intermediate-term outcomes of open repair of mycotic thoracic and thoracoabdominal aneurysms. Contemporary surgical and perioperative techniques were utilized.

Methods: From November 1997 to May 2014, 14 consecutive patients underwent open repair of descending thoracic (n = 9, 64.3%) and thoracoabdominal (n = 5, 35.7%) mycotic aortic aneurysms. All procedures were performed through the left side of the chest. Infected tissue was completely debrided and excised. Aortic continuity was restored in situ with a Dacron prosthesis (Macquet Corp, Oakland, NJ). Soft tissue coverage of the prosthesis was performed when anatomy and patient condition permitted. Perioperative outcomes, intermediate-term survival, and reinfection rates were examined.

Results: All patients presented with either aneurysm-related symptoms or a clinical picture of sepsis. Diagnosis was confirmed utilizing computed tomography imaging. Mean age was 66 ± 13 years, 8 patients (57.1%) were male, and mean aneurysm size was 5.9 ± 1.3 cm. All patients were hypertensive, 3 (21.4%) had prior coronary revascularization, 7 (50%) had chronic pulmonary disease, 5 (35.7%) had diabetes mellitus, and 2 (14.3%) had end-stage renal disease requiring dialysis. Twelve patients (85.7%) had aneurysm-related pain, and 9 (64.3%) of them had contained rupture. Mean time from onset of illness to surgery was 36 days (range, 0 to 153). On preoperative blood cultures, 4 (28.6%) grew Staphylococcus aureus, 4 (28.6%) grew gram negative organisms, 2 (14.3%) grew mycobacterium, and 4 cultures (28.6%) had negative results. Empiric broad-spectrum antibiotics were initiated on all patients and adjusted based on final cultures. A majority of patients underwent repair utilizing a clamp-and-sew technique (n = 10, 71.4%); the remainder (n = 4, 28.6%) required repair under profound hypothermic circulatory arrest. After radical debridement of the infected tissue, grafts were placed in the normal anatomic position; 6 (42.9%) patients had additional soft tissue coverage, 5 (35.7%) utilizing an omental flap and 1 (7.1%), a serratus muscle flap. There was 1 in-hospital death (7.1%) secondary to ischemic bowel. Four patients (28.6%) required tracheostomy, and 1 (7.1%) had recurrent nerve injury. None of the patients incurred spinal cord injury, stroke, or new onset renal failure requiring dialysis. After surgery, all patients were given 6 weeks of intravenous antibiotics. Lifelong suppression therapy was maintained with oral antibiotics. There were no episodes of prosthetic graft infection on follow-up. Univariate analysis revealed that New York Heart Association functional class, diabetes, and preoperative renal dysfunction were preoperative risk factors for major adverse events. Mean follow-up time was 26.5 months (median 8.2; range, 1 to 142). Actuarial 5-year survival was 71%.

Conclusions: Open repair of mycotic descending thoracic and thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms remains the gold standard of therapy. Aggressive intraoperative debridement with in situ prosthetic reconstruction permits a high rate of success in this very high risk cohort of patients. Lifelong antibiotic suppression therapy may prevent late prosthetic graft infection.