Mycotic Pseudoaneurysm of Internal Carotid Artery Secondary to Lemierre's Syndrome, How to Do It

Hybrid endovascular and surgical staged approach for mycotic carotid pseudoaneurysms: a case report and literature review

Background

Mycotic carotid pseudoaneurysms represent a challenge for surgeons. They are rare and associated with high mortality and morbidity.

Methods

We reported a case of a 61-year-old man with a mycotic pseudoaneurysm of carotid bifurcation. The case was managed by a staged procedure, starting with initial endovascular control using a stent graft, followed by open arterial reconstruction using a saphenous vein graft.

Results

The patient was discharged home with a patent carotid artery and no sign of infection or bleeding. A computed tomography scan performed at 1 month, 6 months, and 1 year later confirmed good patency of the graft without imaging of cerebral ischemia.

Conclusions

Mycotic pseudoaneurysms of the extracranial carotid artery are rare and should always be treated surgically. This disease, despite its rarity, requires early detection and treatment to avoid fatal outcomes. A hybrid staged approach is suggested, compared to one-staged surgery, to avoid rupture and improve clinical outcomes. This approach involves using a stent graft combined with antibiotic therapy as bridge treatment until definitive surgery can be performed to enable arterial reconstruction with an autologous graft.

A Rare and Dangerous Combination of COVID-19, Lemierre Syndrome, and Carotid Pseudoaneurysm: A Case Report

Lemierre syndrome is a rare complication of oropharyngeal infection that causes septic thrombophlebitis in the internal jugular vein. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, this condition has been dangerously overlooked and poses an even greater threat when complicated by vascular pathologies. A case is presented where the patient required emergency endovascular exclusion of a right internal carotid artery pseudoaneurysm due to Lemierre syndrome. The treatment included stent graft placement and drainage of a neck abscess, along with appropriate antibiotic treatment during hospitalization. Recognizing this diagnosis requires a high index of suspicion, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. The complexity of the disease necessitates extensive multidisciplinary collaboration for effective treatment.

Infective Native Extracranial Carotid Artery Aneurysms: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

Infective native extracranial carotid artery aneurysms are rare, and their management is variable due to a lack of evidence assessing outcomes.

METHODS

We performed a systematic literature review following PRISMA guidelines to identify all reported cases of infective native extracranial carotid artery aneurysms between January 1970 and March 2021.

RESULTS

This study identified 193 infective native aneurysms of the extracranial carotid artery from 154 sources. Patients were predominantly male (71.4%), and age ranged from 6 months to 89 years old. The most common presenting features were a neck mass and fever, but also included hemorrhage, respiratory distress, and neurological symptoms. Most aneurysms were located in the internal carotid artery (47.4%). Staphylococcus (23.3%) was the most commonly identified causative pathogen, followed by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (20.9%). Most appeared to become infected by direct local spread. Treatment strategies involved open surgical methods in 101 cases and an endovascular approach in 41 cases. In 4 cases, a hybrid method involving concurrent endovascular and open surgical management was undertaken. In 5 cases, there was antibiotic treatment alone. In the open surgery-treated group, the complication rate was 20.8% compared to 13.2% in the endovascular group. Mortality rate was 5.6%.

CONCLUSIONS

Our review identified 193 cases of infective native extracranial carotid artery aneurysms. Direct local spread of a staphylococcus infection was the commonest cause. Endovascular management was associated with fewer early complications than open surgical management.

Lemierre syndrome associated mycotic cavernous sinus thrombosis and carotid aneurysm after COVID-19

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to report a case of Lemierre syndrome associated mycotic aneurysm of the intracavernous carotid artery leading to cavernous sinus syndrome in an otherwise healthy, young man in the setting of COVID-19 infection.

Observations

An 18-year-old, otherwise healthy male athlete developed fever, chills, and headache and was found to be positive for COVID-19 with gram negative bacteremia. While on systemic antibiotic treatment, he developed acute, left-sided, 6th nerve palsy and was found to have bacterial sinusitis, left-sided intracavernous mycotic aneurysm, and cavernous sinus thrombosis on imaging studies. Despite systemic antibiotic and antiplatelet therapy, he developed progressively worsening left-sided ophthalmoplegia and vision decline. He subsequently underwent left internal carotid artery embolization and cervical internal carotid artery sacrifice with excellent outcome.

Conclusion and importance

Lemierre syndrome can have atypical presentations and complications, including cavernous sinus thrombosis and mycotic aneurysms. Recognition of signs and symptoms, including progressive multiple cranial neuropathies, can aid in early diagnosis and management, which requires multidisciplinary care tailored to each individual based on risk of intervention.

Mycotic internal carotid artery pseudoaneurysm secondary to Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Mycobacterium tuberculosis is a rare causative agent for mycotic aneurysms of the extracranial carotid arteries. We describe a case of acute mycotic pseudoaneurysm and abscess in the right proximal internal carotid artery in close proximity to the carotid bifurcation, and subsequent management with antibiotic therapy, surgical debridement and resection with an end-to-end anastomosis.

Radial Artery Graft for Giant Common Carotid Artery Pseudoaneurysm After Carotid Artery Stenting

BACKGROUND

We present a patient who underwent left superior temporal artery (STA)-to-right middle cerebral artery (MCA) bypass using a radial artery (RA) graft with resection of a giant right cervical common carotid artery (CCA) pseudoaneurysm after carotid artery stenting (CAS) and discuss the treatment strategy and surgical procedure in detail.

CASE DESCRIPTION

An 86-year-old male presented with sudden onset of altered consciousness and complete left hemiparesis. Magnetic resonance angiography and catheter angiography of the brain revealed occlusion of the right cervical ICA. Endovascular thrombectomy and stenting of the cervical segment of the ICA were performed. Thirty-two days after CAS, the patient developed a high fever and rapid swelling of the neck. Catheter angiography showed a giant right CCA pseudoaneurysm that had a fistula just proximal to the carotid stent, and the aneurysm extended to the neck entirely. Because of the expanding neck infection, stent placement long lesion, and lack of distal collateral flow on angiography, we performed aneurysm and stent removal and left STA-to-right MCA bypass using an RA graft. The harvested RA graft was anastomosed side to end to both the M2 segment of the right MCA and the left STA. Bypass patency was confirmed before neck exposure. The pseudoaneurysm and proximal portion area of the stent were resected. The patient recovered well postoperatively, and follow-up catheter angiography showed patency of the bypass.

CONCLUSIONS

Left STA-RA-right MCA bypass with aneurysm resection is a good treatment option for giant CCA pseudoaneurysms that occur after CAS.

Nontraumatic Vascular Emergencies of the Neck

Nontraumatic vascular emergencies of the head and neck are uncommon, but can occur in patients with central venous catheters, head and neck infections, and in patients with head and neck cancer. Recognizing the imaging findings of vascular complications in these patient populations is critically important to ensure expeditious treatment to avoid significant morbidity and mortality.

Infected "Mycotic" Aneurysm of the Common Carotid Artery-A Differential Diagnosis to Tumor of the Neck

Introduction: Infected "mycotic" Aneurysm (IA) of the extracranial carotid artery is a rare condition that can be fatal if mistaken for other pathology. An 83-year-old man presented with a mass on the neck initially suspected malignant. Weeks later it grew rapidly and was found to be an IA, thus requiring acute surgery. Via this case report, we discuss diagnostics and approach when diagnosing masses in relation to vessels of the neck not readily explained. Case Report: After diagnostic imaging and clinical assessment an unknown primary tumor of the neck was suspected. Fine needle aspiration was inconclusive. The patient did not present with any signs of infection or neurological symptoms-only discomfort and pain. Approximately two weeks later, the mass grew and the patient became dysphagic, febrile, and confused. Computed tomography angiography revealed an IA of the right common carotid artery. The patient underwent acute surgery consisting of ligation of the internal and external carotid arteries and resection of the internal jugular vein. The pathogen found was E. coli, supposedly from the bladder after surgical intervention due to polyposis. Conclusion: IA is a very rare entity and can have many etiologies. Since it can be fatal, it is necessary to keep IA in mind when diagnosing masses in relation to vessels of the neck. As shown in this case of a E. coli-induced IA, patients can present with atypical symptoms, on diagnostic imaging it can be mistaken for other pathology, and pathogenesis can be unclear.