Simultaneous treatment of Salmonella typhimurium-induced symptomatic abdominal aortic aneurysm with associated spondylitis

Bacterially infected aneurysms associated with local spondylitis, while rep resenting a potentially fatal clinical picture, are an operative challenge for vascular surgeons and orthopaedic surgeons alike. In this context, the concurrent occurrence of an infection with Salmonella typhimurium as a caus ative agent is a rare observation. The case report gives an outline of the simultaneous vascular and orthopaedic surgical procedure. The subrenal myco tic aneurysm was removed in a first step. The continuity of the aorta was r estored centrally through an autogenic aortic graft with caudal anastomosis to a dacron vascular prosthetic tube. Initially, the latter was chosen of excessive length so as to facilitate the orthopaedic surgeon's approach. Up on completion of stabilising surgery of the vertebral column, the dacron tu be was reduced in length as necessary and the surgical area was enclosed wi th an omentum majus plastic mesh. No complications were noted during the 18 -month follow-up period.