Bilateral common carotid artery mycotic aneurysms in the setting of intravenous drug abuse

• DOI: 10.1016/j.jvscit.2022.11.006
• Publication Date: 2022-11-25T21:18:24Z
• Authors: Darshan Randhawa; Kan Hong Zheng; Stephen Stanziale; Jason Chin
• Keywords: Intravenous drug; Mycotic aneurysm; Saphenous vein graft

Carotid mycotic aneurysms are rare, and fewer than five case reports have described carotid mycotic aneurysms due to intravenous drug abuse. Rare bilateral intracranial mycotic carotid aneurysms have been reported, although a review of literature revealed no cases of bilateral extracranial carotid aneurysms. We have reported the case of a 41-year-old man who had presented with intermittent fevers, headaches, and myalgias of 2 weeks’ duration. He was found to have bilateral carotid artery mycotic aneurysms after intravenous drug abuse with neck injections. We used a management strategy entailing unilateral endovascular balloon control with open surgical resection followed by placement of a saphenous vein graft. The contralateral aneurysm was managed nonoperatively with antibiotics.