Hybrid endovascular and surgical approach for mycotic pseudoaneurysms of the extracranial internal carotid artery

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.

Surgical management of extracranial internal carotid artery aneurysm-Case report and literature review

Key Clinical Message

Extracranial internal carotid artery aneurysms (EICAAs) can lead to serious medical conditions, such as stroke or compression over cranial nerves. In very few cases, there may be hemorrhagic complications due to the rupture. Although rare, they should be suspected cause in every patient with transitory ischemic attack or stroke, especially in the presence of pain, palpable mass or bruit in the neck.

Abstract

Extracranial internal carotid artery aneurysms (EICAAs) are rare arterial aneurysms, with a prevalence of less than 1%. Although they are not common, these aneurysms can lead to serious medical conditions, such as stroke or compression over cranial nerves. In very few cases, there may be hemorrhagic complications due to the rupture of the aneurysm. This report presents a case of a successful surgical intervention for EICAA, and an overview of symptoms, risk factors, causes, diagnostic procedures, treatments, and potential postoperative complications. A 70-year-old Albanian lady had been experiencing pain due to a pulsating mass in her neck for many years. Physical examination did not reveal any signs of infection, injury, or previous surgery. A palpable thrill and a carotid bruit were detected over an evident pulsating mass on the left side of her neck. Her past medical history was consistent with three transitory ischemic attacks in recent months and a stroke 5 years earlier. Comorbidities included hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, and long-standing coronary artery disease. Imaging investigation in terms of ultrasound and CT-scan confirmed the presence of an aneurysm of the proximal tract of the internal carotid artery measuring 42 × 31 mm. Surgery was indicated on symptomatic and anatomical grounds. The procedure was carried out under general anesthesia. After proximal and distal clamping, the aneurysm was excised followed by end-to-end anastomosis of the internal carotid artery. The postoperative course was uneventful, and the patient was discharged home on the fifth postoperative day. Despite the growing number of reported cases of successful endovascular treatment for internal carotid artery aneurysms, open surgery remains a safe and effective treatment option. However, it is crucial to provide customized treatment plans for each patient based on their individual characteristics and the particularities of their aneurysm.

Mycotic Aneurysm of Internal Carotid Artery Secondary to Livestock-associated Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Clonal Complex CC398

The aim of this article is to present a case of mycotic aneurysm of internal carotid artery secondary to livestock-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (LA-MRSA) treated with resection and common-to-internal carotid artery bypass with autologous vein graft in a male pig farmer. A 69-year-old man, pig farmer, with recent dental extraction was admitted with a right cervical pulsatile mass, dysphonia, pain, leukocytosis and elevated C-reactive protein (CRP). Ultrasonography (US) and computed tomography angiography (CTA) showed a 3.9 × 4.5 cm mycotic aneurysm of right internal carotid artery with hypermetabolic uptake in positron emission tomography (PET) scan. Resection of the mycotic aneurysm and a common-to-internal carotid artery bypass with major saphenous vein graft were performed. LA-MRSA clonal complex (CC) 398 was detected in intraoperative samples and antibiotic therapy was changed according to antibiogram. Patient was discharged at the seventh postoperative day and received antibiotic therapy for 6 weeks. US 12 months later showed patency of the bypass without collections. Mycotic aneurysms of internal carotid artery are very infrequent. MRSA isolation is rare, and to the best of our knowledge this is the first case caused by multi-drug resistant LA-MRSA CC398. The treatment includes mycotic aneurysm resection and reconstruction with venous graft bypass plus intensive antibiotic therapy.

Hybrid Solution for Mycotic Pseudoaneurysm of Carotid Bifurcation

Mycotic pseudoaneurysms of the extracranial carotid artery are rare and need surgical treatment to prevent rupture or embolization. We treated a case of a carotid bifurcation pseudoaneurysm secondary to infection caused by Staphylococcus epidermidis. We successfully treated it using a catheter balloon to obtain carotid bifurcation's control and replacing the carotid bifurcation with a vein graft. Management involves aneurysmectomy associated with antibiotic therapy and restoration of arterial continuity.