High-Grade Infection after Branched Endovascular Aortic Repair in Patient with Recent COVID-19 Hospitalization

Abstract

In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the global healthcare landscape has undergone significant transformations, particularly impacting the management of complex medical conditions such as aortic aneurysms. This study focuses on a 76-year-old female patient with a history of extensive cardiovascular surgeries, including aortic valve replacement, Bentall operation, and Frozen Elephant Trunk procedure, who presented with a type II thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm post-COVID-19 recovery. A comprehensive frailty assessment using the Modified Frailty Index and a two-phase endovascular approach for aneurysm treatment, considering the patient’s frailty and complex medical history was performed. Upon successful aneurysm management, the patient’s postoperative course was complicated by COVID-19 reinfection and Enterococcus faecalis superinfection, highlighting the increased risk of bacterial superinfections and the challenges posed by antimicrobial resistance in COVID-19 patients. The study underscores the necessity of vigilant postoperative surveillance and a multidisciplinary approach in managing such complex cases, highlighting the importance of personalized care strategies, integrating cardiovascular and infectious disease management, and adapting healthcare practices to the unique challenges of the pandemic. This case contributes to the evolution of knowledge on managing aortic aneurysms in the COVID-19 era, advocating for patient-centric treatment approaches and continuous research into long-term patient outcomes.

Keywords

• COVID-19
• thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm
• post-intervention complications
• bacterial superinfection