Infections of the aorta and iliac arteries

Infections of the aorta, eventually associated with aneurysm development, are rare (0.5-2.6%) with higher rates observed in Eastern countries (13%) 1-6. Only small series are available from the literature, so it is very difficult to identify risk factors for this disease; most patients are aged, with generalized sepsis and serious comorbidities often associated with a depressed immune response. Hospital mortality rates are high (16-44%) in spite of improvements in imaging, surgical techniques and available antimicrobial therapy; most of deaths are observed in patients with infections by Salmonella or Staphylococcus Aureus, in ruptured aneurysms and when the suprarenal aorta is affected 1. This retrospective, single-center study reports early and late results of treatment in 12 patients observed in the last 20 years.