Krishnakurup, Jayakrishnan, Khalaffi, Hitcham, Patel, Trushar, Argento, Vivian, Swogger, Jennifer
abstract
Infectious aortitis is an infrequent clinical entity and this is mostly seen in association with an aortic aneurysm. There are very few documented cases of aortitis in the setting of a normal caliber aorta. Aortitis is an inflammatory process involving one or more layers of the aortic wall. Infectious aortitis can be spontaneous in origin or may occur in the setting of bacteremia, endocarditis or extension from a contiguous site of infection. It may complicate, a pre-existing aneurysm, or post-operative course of an aortic graft. Nonaneurysmal infectious aortitis by Group B streptococci is very rare and is not well described in the literature. Clinical presentations are confusing and diagnosis prior to aneurysmal formation or rupture becomes extremely challenging. A combined treatment modality involving both medical and surgical intervention is necessary to contain the infection and to prevent rupture of the aorta.(11) Medical therapy alone has always lead to a 100% mortality in cases of aortic rupture.