Mycotic aneurysm of the carotid bifurcation in the neck: case ...

OBJECTIVE AND IMPORTANCE: Mycotic aneurysms of the extracranial carotid artery are rare and difficult to diagnose. A search of the world literature published since 1966 reveals at least six cases of mycotic carotid aneurysms due to a Salmonella septicemia. We present an exceptional case of mycotic pseudoaneurysm of the bifurcation of the carotid artery due to Salmonella septicemia and discuss the pathogenesis as well as various aspects of the diagnosis and surgical management. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: A 68-year-old man presented in Poland with Salmonella sepsis; 1 month later, he was admitted to the emergency department of the Sir Mortimer B. Davis-Jewish General Hospital in Montreal with a bulky and pulsatile right cervical mass. An angiogram and a computed tomographic scan revealed a voluminous and partially thrombosed aneurysm the size of a tangerine originating from the posterior aspect of the carotid junction. INTERVENTION: Balloon trapping was attempted at the Montreal Neurological Hospital. Subsequently, the patient developed a significant neurological deficit, which was quickly reversed by the administration of hypertensive, hypervolemic, and hemodilution therapy. Thereafter, the pseudoaneurysm was resected surgically, and the internal and external carotid arteries were sacrificed. Pathological examination of the excised specimen of the carotid junction revealed a pseudoaneurysm. Bacterial culture of the lesion showed growth of Salmonella. CONCLUSION: The postoperative course was satisfactory except for laryngeal paralysis due to involvement of the vagus nerve. Four months later, a computed tomographic scan showed only small lacunae in both centra semiovale.