Pasturella multicodainfection of an abdominal aortic endograft

Abstract

Both surgical and endovascular grafts have the rare risk of late secondary infection. Treatment varies based on the clinical setting, but in general the recommendations are that infected endografts be removed and reconstruction performed. In the abdominal aorta this may vary from homograft or other impregnated grafts to excision and extra-anatomic bypass. We discuss an unusual case which we believe serves as a useful review of this still debated area. A 58-year-old male presented with abdominal and back pain. Prior history was notable for human immunodeficiency virus positive status, pulmonary embolism (currently on Coumadin) and two years previously repair of a saccular infra-renal aneurysm with tube graft. The week prior to the onset of symptoms he suffered a noticeable scratch from his cat. Blood cultures were positive for pasturella multicoda. He was transferred to our institution and underwent resection and explantation, with homograft reconstruction. At one year he is alive and well.