Long-lasting fever after thoracic stent-graft implementation

Abstract

In spite of the relatively small trauma that results from intravascular operation in the treatment of thoracic aortic aneurysm, the implementation of a prosthesis is associated with an inflammatory reaction. Accompanying clinical symptoms (prolonged increased body temperature) as well as biochemical changes (shifts in C-reactive protein levels) may indicate infection. Suspecting a septic condition with secondary prosthesis infection, we are forced to implement prolonged antibiotic treatment and in some cases prosthesis removal. The patient presented by us is an example of that. Positive bacteriological culture from blood suggested infection diagnosis. However, this was not reflected in radiological imaging examinations and parallel antibiotic treatment. Only the discontinuation of antibiotics in the 4th week and the implementation of steroid treatment made the fever subside and C-reactive protein levels normalize.