Total resection of an infected aortic arch aneurysm caused by Mycobacterium avium: a case report

BACKGROUND: Infected aortic arch aneurysms caused by Mycobacterium avium are rare in immunocompetent individuals. Promptly recognizing these aneurysms is important because delays in treatment result in aneurysm rupture and a high fatality rate. Although Salmonella species, Streptococcus species, Staphylococcus aureus, and S. epidermis are commonly found in immunocompetent individuals, to our knowledge, infected aortic arch aneurysms caused by M. avium have not yet been reported. CASE PRESENTATION: We report the case of a 63-year old immunocompetent man who underwent total arch replacement following infection by the nontuberculous mycobacteria M. avium. The procedure involved total aneurysmal resection and arch replacement with a rifampicin-bonded gelatin-sealed woven Dacron graft. He was discharged without complications and remained asymptomatic after 30 months. CONCLUSION: In this brief report, we outline and discuss the rare successful case of total arch replacement using total aneurysmal resection and rifampicin-bonded gelatin-sealed woven Dacron graft for an infected aortic arch aneurysm resulting from M. avium in an immunocompetent patient.