Ascending aortic infected pseudoaneurysm with aortic insufficiency following cardiac operation for infective...

An infected pseudoaneurysm of the ascending aorta after heart surgery is a fatal disease due to its rapid progress, worsening of the systemic condition and a tendency of recurrence. We report a 53-year-old man with this condition who presented with fever and an aortic regurgitation due to compression of the ascending aortic root 2 months after mitral valve replacement for infective endocarditis. We performed an aneurysmectomy with a cardiopulmonary bypass using groin cannulation and moderate systemic hypothermia. A pseudoaneurysm developed 5 mm proximally of the previous aortotomy. There was no dehiscence of the former aortic suture line. After debridement of the ascending aorta involving the previous aortotomy and pseudoaneurysm, we elected to directly close the aortic defect using Teflon felt strips to avoid a prosthetic graft. The aortic valve had no infective endocarditis and other abnormality. Postoperatively, there was no aortic regurgitation, and the cause of the previous aortic regurgitation was believed to be due to a compression of the aortic root from outside. The postoperative course has been good.