Mycotic aneurysm of the ascending aorta due to Escherichia coli: a case report.

Ascending aorta mycotic aneurysm is a rare entity. It is a life-threatening condition because of the possibility of aortic dissection, or rupture. Escherichia coli is recognised as an uncommon cause of aortic mycotic aneurysm. An 81-year-old woman with a history of Escherichia coli pyelonephritis 4 months previously, was admitted to our centre for a mycotic aneurysm of the ascending aorta caused by Escherichia coli. She was successfully treated by urgent in situ replacement of the ascending aorta with a cryopreserved homograft, combined with antibiotics. Although infrequent, Escherichia coli mycotic aneurysm should be suspected in older patients with atherosclerosis and who developed septicaemia. Prompt treatment with a combination of appropriate antibiotics and surgery is required.

Grades of Below-the-Ankle Arterial Occlusive Disease following the Angiosome Perfusion: A New Morphological Assessment and Correlations with the Inframalleolar GVG Stratification in CLTI Patients.

PURPOSE: To assess a specific classification of the foot atherosclerotic disease concerning the angiosomal source arteries, the connected foot arches and attached collaterals for Rutherford 5, CLTI patients. To compare eventual analogies of this novel grading system with previously reported GLASS/GVG inframalleolar patterns of occlusive disease (P0-P2). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A series of 336 ischemic feet (221 diabetics) were selected and retrospectively analyzed. For each angiographic pattern of inframalleolar atherosclerotic disease, 4 severity classes of targeted angiosomal artery path (TAAP), associating 4 other classes concerning linked foot arches (LFA) and collaterals occlusive disease were described. By associating the 4 TAAP with the 4 others parallel LFA and collaterals classes, 4 novel anatomical "Grades" (A-D) of occlusive disease were described. Limb salvage was studied between groups of diabetic and non-diabetic patients. RESULTS: Using a primary endovascular approach, limb preservation comparison of grade A/B proved without significance for diabetics (P = 0.032) and non-diabetics (P = 0.226). Comparison in diabetics and/or non-diabetics between A/C (P = 0.045 and 0.046), A/D (P = 0.027 and 0.030,B/C (P = 0.009 and 0.038), and B/D (P = 0.006 and P = 0.042), as well as C/D groups (P = 0.048 and P = 0.034) proved ponderous. Parallel analysis of similar grades (A/A, B/B, etc.) with, or without diabetes appeared without significance (P > 0.05). Further comparison between grades A+B (assigned as P0/GVG), versus C (P1), and D (P2), proved significant (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: The present grading system proposes a useful correlation between the severity of foot angiosomal arteries, arches, and collaterals disease and limb salvage, confirming the clinical significance of P0-P2 GVG severity score. This analysis also points the limits of EVT to be probably avoided in grade D patients.

Streptococcus agalactiae infective endocarditis: analysis of eight surgical cases from a single centre.

BACKGROUND: Streptococcus agalactiae (GBS) infective endocarditis (IE) is a rare clinical entity. It is associated with a high mortality rate compared to other streptococci endocarditis. The aim of this study is to define the clinical characteristics, treatment and outcomes of a series of eight non-pregnant adults with GBS IE managed by a combination of antibiotics and surgery at our institution. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of all adult patients with a definite diagnosis of IE by Duke modified criteria and who underwent surgery at our centre between January 2008 and December 2018. RESULTS: A total of 190 patients underwent surgery for IE during the study period. Eight cases of GBS IE were identified, including six males and two females. The mean aged was 54 years (range, 32-68). Seven cases suffered native valve endocarditis and one involved an aortic bioprosthesis. Seven patients had underlying comorbidities. Furthermore, four patients had experienced serious complications. Of these, the most common were heart failure, septic shock, and cerebral emboli. Vegetations tended to be large, very mobile, and pedunculated. Most of the patients were treated with penicillin plus an aminoglycoside. Surgery was emergently performed in one patient and urgently performed in seven patients. In- hospital mortality rate was 37.5%. CONCLUSION: GBS IE is a virulent disease with an aggressive clinical course. It mostly affects patients with debilitating diseases. Early surgery should be considered to prevent the development of serious complications. However, overall mortality rate remains high despite surgical treatment.

Surgical management of Staphylococcus capitis prosthetic valve infective endocarditis: Retrospective review of a 10-year single center experience and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Staphylococcus capitis (S. capitis) is a subtype of coagulase-negative staphylococci and a commensal of the skin of the human scalp and forehead. S. capitis has been occasionally reported in infective endocarditis and rarely in prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE). The purpose of this report is to present the clinical course and the surgical management of a series of four patients with S. capitis PVE. METHODS: The medical records of 190 adult patients with a definite diagnosis of infective endocarditis by the Duke modified criteria and who underwent surgery at our center between January 2008 and December 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: There were four cases of S. capitis infective endocarditis among 190 patients. All were male with an average age of 70.25 years (range, 58-80 years). The four cases were PVE: 3 aortic (1 mechanical and 2 biological bioprostheses) and 1 mitral (bioprosthesis). Their mean Euroscore II was 32.43 (range, 9.19-50.8). Three patients had underlying diseases (diabetes mellitus=2, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease=3, chronic kidney disease=1, peripheral arterial disease=2, ischemic heart disease=1, dilated cardiomyopathy=1). Preoperative clinical presentation was characterized by the occurrence of sepsis in three patients and heart failure and sepsis in one patient. Two patients presented with vegetation (mitral bioprosthesis, aortic bioprosthesis). A prosthetic dehiscence was present in all patients, and two presented with a localized annular abscess. All but one patient received triple antibiotic treatment with vancomycin plus rifampicin plus gentamycin. Surgery was performed on an urgent basis in all patients, and the in-hospital mortality rate was 50%. CONCLUSIONS: While limited by the small number of patients, our series highlights the aggressive clinical course of S. capitis PVE with a mortality rate close to that of Staphylococcus aureus PVE. Therefore, early surgical management is recommended to improve the clinical outcome of this serious disease.