Repairing left ventricular outflow after aortic composite graft pseudoaneurysm: case report
Rita Caldeira da Rocha1, Kisa Congo2, Manuel Trinca2
1Cardiology Department, Hospital Espírito Santo, Largo Senhor da Pobreza, 7000-811, Évora, Portugal. aritaCrocha@gmail.com.
Background:
We present a technique for aortic composite graft implantation after left ventricular outflow tract destruction due to its proximal dehiscence.
Case Presentation:
A 53-year-old gentleman with rheumatoid arthritis and history of Bentall procedure, presented with heart failure symptoms for the past month. Transthoracic echocardiogram identified prosthetic valve dysfunction, and transesophageal echocardiogram detected that its mechanism was by dehiscence. After excluding infectious etiology, it was hypothesized that the cause was the absence of endothelialization, owing to immunosuppressive therapy. Repair surgery was successful, and 2 years later, the patient is fully asymptomatic.
Conclusions:
Immunosuppressive drugs are a rare cause of aortic composite graft dehiscence. Left ventricular outflow tract surgical reconstruction remains an extremely complex and high-risk intervention, with the need for reentry into cardiopulmonary bypass and graft proximal segment implantation in a lower position.
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