Intracranial mycotic aneurysm associated with left ventricular assist device infection

Joshua A Hill; Nahush A Mokadam; Robert M Rakita

doi:10.1016/j.athoracsur.2013.10.094

Intracranial mycotic aneurysm associated with left ventricular assist device infection

Ann Thorac Surg. 2014 Sep;98(3):1088-9. doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2013.10.094.

Authors

Joshua A Hill¹, Nahush A Mokadam², Robert M Rakita³

Affiliations

¹ Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington. Electronic address: joshuaah@uw.edu.
² Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington.
³ Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington.

Abstract

Infection is a frequent complication of left ventricular assist device (LVAD) use in patients with severe heart failure. The development of bacteremia with "LVAD endocarditis" is a serious infection that has rarely been associated with mycotic aneurysm formation. We describe the first case of an LVAD-associated intracranial mycotic aneurysm. We suggest that this is an underappreciated condition that merits more aggressive evaluation and treatment in patients with chronic LVAD-associated infections.

Publication types

Case Reports

MeSH terms

Aneurysm, Infected / etiology*
Heart-Assist Devices / adverse effects*
Humans
Intracranial Aneurysm / etiology*
Intracranial Aneurysm / microbiology
Male
Middle Aged
Prosthesis-Related Infections / etiology*

Grants and funding

T32 AI007044/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States