Report of four cases of aneurysm complicating patch aortoplasty for repair of coarctation of the aorta.
Patch aortoplastry, used almost routinely in the period 1972-86, except in infants in the operative treatment of coarctation of aorta, is sometimes complicated by late formation of true or false aneurysms. This complication, which seems likely to increase with longer follow-up, calls into question the advisability of patch aortoplasty except when it has specific advantages. Other surgical techniques such as subclavian flap angioplasty in infants and young children or radical excision with end-to-end anastomosis may be preferable where there is no anatomical contraindication. In any case, lifelong yearly review of postoperative patients should include chest X-ray and further investigation by computerized tomography scanning or other suitable imaging of those with suspicious findings.
Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
C N
CN
John
T B
TB
Cartmill
D C
DC
Johnson
G R
GR
Nunn
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001014:Aortic Aneurysm / Q000209:etiology*; D001017:Aortic Coarctation / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications