Gatibelza M E, Laroye B, Lombard J, Mameli A, Thomas E
Department of Vascular and Thoracic Surgery, Centre Hospitalier de Niort, Niort Cedex, France.
Ann Vasc Surg. 2009 Jul-Aug;23(4):536.e13-7. doi: 10.1016/j.avsg.2008.10.010. Epub 2008 Dec 24.
Infected aneurysm of the abdominal aorta is an uncommon and highly lethal disease, with a >80% rate of death. It is uncommonly associated with spondylodiscitis. Management of this rare association of pathology remains controversial. This report details the case of a patient with a large vascular past history, presenting a scarce association of disease: a ruptured infected aneurysm of the abdominal aorta with a spondylodiscitis due to Gemella haemolysans. The patient recovered quickly and durably, thanks to an unusual cooperation of both vascular surgeons and orthopedists: He underwent an in situ graft replacement and a front vertebral fixation in a single-step surgery. Good immediate and midterm outcome shows a new way of treatment in this rare but severe situation.