Surgical Strategies and Long-Term Outcomes for Complex Coral Reef Aorta with Multisegmental Involvement: A Case
Hyung-Kee Kim1, Suehyun Park1, Deokbi Hwang2
1Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Department of Surgery, Kyungpook National University Chilgok Hospital, Daegu, Korea.
Insights
Coral reef aorta (CRA), a rare condition causing aortic calcification, can lead to severe symptoms. Surgical intervention can resolve immediate issues, but long-term management of CRA progression is essential.
Area of Science:
- Vascular Surgery
- Cardiology
- Radiology
Background:
- Coral reef aorta (CRA) is a rare condition characterized by extensive aortic calcification.
- CRA can cause severe symptoms including hypertension, heart failure, and ischemia.
Abstract:
Coral reef aorta (CRA) is a rare condition characterized by the distribution of rock-hard calcifications in the visceral part of the aorta, leading to potentially life-threatening symptoms, such as hypertension, congestive heart failure, and limb and visceral ischemia. The patient was a 54-year-old female who presented with leg claudication and was diagnosed with CRA using computed tomography. CRA affected the descending thoracic and abdominal aortas, including the visceral portion, leading to reduced perfusion of both limbs and the left kidney. The surgical intervention involved bypass surgery from the descending thoracic aorta proximal to the CRA to the aortic bifurcation, including reimplantation of the left renal artery. Postoperative recovery was successful and the symptoms resolved. However, the patient experienced decreased right renal function due to CRA progression three years postoperatively. Given the uncertainty regarding the optimal surgical approach for CRA, long-term considerations are crucial for its management.
