[Aneurysm after patch graft aortoplasty in aortic coarctation]

In the period 1973-83, 114 patients with coarctation of the aorta were operated on with patch plasty. Early results were encouraging. Two of these patients had to be reoperated, however, because of aneurysmatic dilatation of the aorta adjacent to the prosthetic patch. In one case acute rupture of the aneurysm occurred eight years after the patch plasty, and surgery was performed under dramatic conditions as a life-saving procedure. In the other patient increasing dilatation of the distal part of the aortic arch was observed at chest X-ray 4-5 years after the operation. DSA revealed a large aneurysm proximal and distal to the site of coarctation, and he was operated with excision of the aneurysm and closure of the aorta with a patch of PTFE. Careful follow-up of patients operated for coarctation of the aorta is important. In addition to clinical investigation, patients with patch plasty must be referred to chest X-ray examination every 2nd to 3rd year for a relatively long time.