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Case report
Massive prosthetic aortic abscess: an overarching plight 7 years post-Bentall’s procedure
  1. Michael McCann,
  2. Nikki Stamp and
  3. Robert Larbalestier
  1. Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery and Transplantation, Fiona Stanley Hospital, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
  1. Correspondence to Dr Michael McCann, michael.mccann{at}health.wa.gov.au

Abstract

Infections of proximal aortic vascular grafts are a catastrophic complication of aortic surgery. Despite aggressive antimicrobial and surgical intervention, mortality and reinfection rates remain significant. Here, we describe a man aged 71 years with a medical history of bioprosthetic aortic valve with aortic arch replacement (modified Bentall’s procedure), who developed a large periprosthetic abscess due to Staphylococcus aureus 7 years after his initial surgery. The patient’s preference was to avoid redo surgery, however despite high-dose intravenous flucloxacillin and oral rifampicin therapy, there was rapid progression of the abscess, necessitating urgent surgery. Notwithstanding the burden of infection, the patient underwent successful surgical excision and graft re-implantation and remains independent and well, almost 2 years postoperatively.

  • infections
  • cardiothoracic surgery

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Footnotes

  • Contributors MM completed the literature review and manuscript for submission. RL and NS performed the patient’s operation and provided editorial support for the production of the manuscript.

  • Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

  • Competing interests None declared.

  • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.

  • Patient consent for publication Obtained.