Surgical Treatment of Ruptured Infected Thoracoabdominal Aortic Aneurysm with Thoracic Empyema

Abstract

A 63-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of severe back pain. A diagnosis of ruptured infected thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm with thoracic empyema was made by computed tomography imaging, marked inflammation, and evidence with positive bacteriological culture of hemothorax. The infected thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm and tissue were resected completely and replaced by an in situ dacron graft with Vancomycin. The graft was covered with a pedicled omental flap and omentoplasty for thoracic empyema was performed. Staphylococus aureus was isolated from a culture of the aortic wall. After subsequent intravenous antibiotic therapy for 6 weeks, the patient was discharged without any evidence of remaining infection. There has been no sign of recurrent infection.