False aneurysm of the axillary artery caused by graft infection: report of a case.

A 77-year-old man presented to our hospital following the sudden onset of left subclavicular swelling, 8 years after undergoing subtotal removal of an axillofemoral bypass. Computed tomography revealed a rupture of the left axillary artery with the formation of a false aneurysm. Emergency surgery was performed in the form of an extraanatomic, axillo-axillary bypass with resection of the false aneurysm. Prior to removal of the false aneurysm, the subclavian artery was ligated via a left thoracotomy to minimize blood loss. The pathogen was identified as Proteus mirabilis, which is a rare causative organism for prosthetic graft infection. This case report demonstrates that total removal of the graft with revascularization should be performed for graft infections.