Images in cardiovascular medicine. Rupture of infected splenic artery aneurysm secondary to infective endocarditis

Splenic Artery Infectious Aneurysms in Infective Endocarditis - An Observational Study and Comprehensive Literature Review

BACKGROUND

To determine the prevalence, the clinical and radiological features, associated factors, treatment, and outcome of splenic artery aneurysms (SAAs) in infective endocarditis (IE).

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed 474 consecutive patients admitted to our institution with definite IE (2005-2020).

RESULTS

Six patients had SAAs (1.3%; 3 women; mean age: 50 years). In all cases, the diagnosis was obtained by abdominal computed tomography angiography (CTA). SAAs-IE were solitary and saccular with a mean diameter of 30 mm (range: 10-90 mm). SAAs-IE were intrasplenic (n = 4) or hilar (n = 2). Streptococcus spp. were the predominant organisms (n = 4). In all cases, a left-sided native valve was involved (aortic, n = 3; mitral, n = 2; mitral-aortic, n = 1). SAAs were silent in half patients and were revealed by abdominal pain (n = 2) and by the resurgence of fever after cardiac surgery (n = 1). All patients underwent emergent valve replacement. One patient died within 24 hr from multiorgan failure. For the others, uneventful coil embolization was performed in 4 patients after valve replacement (3 diagnosed early and 1 at 8 weeks). In the remaining patient, SAA-IE diagnosed at abdominal CTA at day 16, with complete resolution under appropriate antibiotherapy alone.

CONCLUSIONS

SAAs-IE are a rare occurrence that may be clinically silent. SAAs-IE can be intrasplenic or hilar in location. Endovascular treatment in this context was safe. According to current guidelines, radiologic screening by abdominal CTA allowed the detection of silent SAAs which could be managed by endovascular treatment to prevent rupture. The delayed formation of these SAAs could justify a CTA control at the end of antibiotherapy.

Diagnosis and management of mycotic aneurysms

We reviewed all papers most recently reported in the literature related to infected arterial aneurysms (IAAs) affecting the aorta and vascular beds other than the aorta. In this article, we report on vascular beds other than the aorta. As is the case for aortic IAAs, infected non-aortic aneurysms are rarely encountered. The majority of recent studies are limited to case reports and small series of unusual infected aneurysms. A comprehensive review of this entity was performed based on the available literature from January through December 2008 in all languages. Available reports were analyzed with respect to demographic features, type of presentation, methods of diagnosis and therapy, follow-up, and outcome (morbidity and mortality).