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

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.