Development of neoaortic pseudoaneurysm after arterial switch operation

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Cardiology
• Congenital Heart Disease Surgery
• Vascular Surgery

Background:

• Transposition of the great arteries (TGA) is a critical congenital heart defect.
• Arterial switch operation (ASO) is the standard surgical correction for TGA.
• Postoperative pseudoaneurysms are a rare but serious complication following ASO.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report a case of a large neoaortic pseudoaneurysm after ASO in an infant.
• To describe the successful surgical repair of this complication.
• To present the long-term outcome following repair.

Main Methods:

• Case report of a 46-day-old male infant with TGA.
• Diagnosis of a large neoaortic pseudoaneurysm during postoperative follow-up.
• Surgical repair of the pseudoaneurysm.
• Clinical and imaging follow-up for 3 years.

Main Results:

• A large neoaortic pseudoaneurysm was identified post-ASO.
• The pseudoaneurysm was successfully repaired surgically.
• The patient remained asymptomatic with normal clinical and imaging findings at 3-year follow-up.

Conclusions:

• Neoaortic pseudoaneurysms are a potential late complication of ASO for TGA.
• Timely diagnosis and surgical repair can lead to excellent long-term outcomes.
• This case highlights the importance of vigilant postoperative surveillance.