Diagnostic features and management of bacterial arteritis with false aneurysm formation.

Primary bacterial arteritis with false aneurysm formation is an uncommon condition. This report presents seven patients admitted to one unit over a 5-year period. Interesting aspects of the clinical presentation are discussed. The importance of surgical debridement, extra-anatomic bypass, antibiotic therapy and antibiotic irrigation of the infected aneurysm cavity is stressed. The relative merits of extra-anatomic bypass and in situ grafting for aortic infection are discussed. By following these principles, this series of patients have had a successful surgical outcome and all the signs of infection have been eradicated.