부산대학교 도서관

n-Butyl-2-cyanoacrylate (NCBA) is an effective therapeutic option for bleeding gastric varices but can sometimes be associated with adverse effects. Persistent bacteraemia is an unusual complication with a high mortality rate. We report the case of a 34-year-old man with history of cirrhosis due to Wilson’s disease and severe portal hypertension who was hospitalized as a result of upper gastrointestinal bleeding secondary to fundic varices that were treated with NCBA. Eight weeks after the bleeding episode he was readmitted with a 14-day history of fever and chills. Pseudomonas aeruginosawas isolated from blood cultures. He presented with persistent P. aeruginosabacteraemia despite correct antibiotic treatment. A PET-CT scan was performed to rule out infection source, and inflammatory changes at the NCBA site plug were found. A presumptive diagnosis of NCBA plug infection was considered. The case was evaluated by multidisciplinary board and indicated liver transplantation as treatment. However, the patient’s bacteraemia persisted and therefore a vertical gastrectomy to remove the NCBA plug was performed. P. aeruginosawas also isolated from the plug. The patient was discharged with ceftazidime plus ciprofloxacin to complete 6 weeks after surgery and he remained asymptomatic. Any foreign material such as NCBA is susceptible to being infected and should be considered in patients with persistent breakthrough bloodstream infections. The individualized treatment is recommended in this complex scenario.