Partial dehiscence of a porcine prosthesis in association with aortic annular separation producing a false aneurysm of the ascending aorta.
A 44-year-old man developed intermittent left bundle branch block followed by complete heart block 18 months after aortic valve replacement, and aortic insufficiency and hemolytic anemia 5 years postoperatively. These abnormalities were associated with operative findings (7 years after aortic valve replacement) of total disruption of the aorta at the level of the aortic annulus. Echocardiographic findings of an enlarged and unusually shaped "aortic root" and angiographic findings of abnormally high origin of the coronary arteries relative to the valve ring, which should have suggested the diagnosis 2 years prior to successful surgical repair, are presented.
D000328:Adult; D000792:Angiography; D001014:Aortic Aneurysm / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D001021:Aortic Valve; D001705:Bioprosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004452:Echocardiography; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011475:Prosthesis Failure