Mycotic Aneurism of the Superior Mesenteric Artery - A Life Threatening Disease

Francisco D. Collet e Silva, MD, FACS, Renato Sergio Poggetti, MD, FACS, Fabio Gazel Quintavale MD, Ricardo Aun, MD, Belchor Fontes, MD, Dario Birolini, MD, FACS

Product Details
Product ID: ACS-2301
Year Produced: 2004
Length: 8 min.


Mycotic aneurism of aorta and visceral arteries is uncommon and, due to its potential for rupture, it is a life threatening entity, presenting risks of ischemia, and organ and lib loss. These aneurisms occur in presence of endocarditis, immunodeficiency, bacteremia and fundemia, carrying an ominous prognosis. The incidence of aneurism of the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) is 5-8% of visceral aneurisms. Diagnosis of the SMA aneurism is established through clinical history (abdominal pain, abdominal tumor) and imaging tests. The treatment for this disease is elective surgery, that has a mortality rate of <10%. The treatment for visceral aneurisms is surgical ligature or excision, with preservation of the structures irrigated by the artery. The incidence of intestinal ischemia increases if procedure is carried out as an emergency procedure. A case of mycotic pseudoaneurism of superior mesenteric artery and will illustrate surgical management of this disease. A 12 year old white girl was being treated for rheumatic fever and bacterial endocarditis and presented a mycotic pseudoaneurism of mesenteric superior artery, confirm by angio-resonance examination (7.5 cm aneurismatic dilatation). Surgical treatment was resection of the pseudoaneurism. Due to high mortality rate, and high incidence of aneurism rupture, associated with mycotic aneurisms, surgery is mandatory as soon as the aneurism is identified.