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Coronary artery bypass graft pseudoaneurysm communicating with the right atrium: a case report and review
1St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center, Hoffman Heart Institute of Connecticut, Hartford 06105, USA.
Catheterization and Cardiovascular Diagnosis
|May 1, 1996
Insights
A pseudoaneurysm formed in a coronary artery bypass graft, causing abnormal drainage into the right atrium. This rare complication was diagnosed via cardiac catheterization in a patient with myocardial infarction.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Surgery
- Interventional Cardiology
- Vascular Medicine
Background:
- Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is a common procedure for treating coronary artery disease.
- Pseudoaneurysms are rare but serious complications following cardiovascular interventions.
- Fistulous communication between vascular grafts and cardiac chambers presents unique diagnostic and management challenges.
Observation:
- A pseudoaneurysm was identified in the right coronary artery bypass graft.
- The pseudoaneurysm exhibited fistulous drainage directly into the right atrium.
- The patient presented with an acute myocardial infarction in a territory unrelated to the pseudoaneurysm.
Findings:
- Cardiac catheterization successfully diagnosed the pseudoaneurysm and its fistulous connection.
- The pseudoaneurysm represented a critical complication of the aortocoronary bypass graft.
- Review of literature on pseudoaneurysms of aortocoronary bypass grafts is presented.
Implications:
- Early diagnosis and appropriate management are crucial for patients with bypass graft pseudoaneurysms.
- This case highlights the importance of considering rare graft complications in patients with complex cardiac presentations.
- Understanding pseudoaneurysm formation and management can improve outcomes for patients undergoing CABG.
Abstract:
We report a pseudoaneurysm of the right coronary artery bypass graft with fistulous drainage into the right atrium. This patient presented with an acute myocardial infarction in a different vascular territory. Cardiac catheterization led to the diagnosis of the pseudoaneurysm. A review of pseudoaneurysms of aortocoronary bypass grafts is presented.