title: Spontaneous obliteration of a pseudo-aneurysm complicating an aortic homograft.
abstract: Pseudoaneurysm formation after aortic homograft replacement in patients with active endocarditis is a common observation and usually occurs at the site of a former abscess or paravalvular leak in case of prosthetic valve endocarditis. A 53-year-old man with prosthetic endocarditis underwent aortic valve homograft replacement and developed a pseudoaneurysm at the right and noncoronary aortic sinus which was documented by Doppler echocardiography. Follow-up examination ten months after operation unexpectedly revealed a complete obliteration of the previously echo free space between the homograft and the native aortic root and, thus, spontaneous obliteration of the pseudoaneurysm.
authors.affiliation: Department of Echocardiography, University Hospital, Zürich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Federmann
authors.forename: L K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: von Segesser
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ritter
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jenni
mesh_terms: D017541:Aneurysm, False / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001021:Aortic Valve; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016459:Prosthesis-Related Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D012075:Remission, Spontaneous; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D013212:Staphylococcus epidermidis / Q000302:isolation & purification*