Abdominal aortic aneurysms in heart transplanted patients.
OBJECTIVE
In the AA's opinion, the dilatation of the abdominal aorta is not a contraindication to heart transplantation.


METHODS
From July 1994 to February 1998, 3 out of 80 heart transplanted patients, required a replacement of their abdominal aorta because of an infrarenal aortic aneurysm. The first patient (62 years old) did not have an aneurysm by time of heart transplantation: his aneurysm (5.1 cm wide) was resected 2 years later. The other two patients (m, 44 years old; m, 60 years old) had a dilatation of 3.1 and 3.5 cm of the abdominal aorta by time of cardiac transplantation: 15 months later, the aneurysms measured 5.8 and 7 cm, respectively, and had been resected. Two resections were performed through a retroperitoneal approach.


RESULTS
All 3 patients had uneventful postoperative course.


CONCLUSIONS
Before heart transplantation the aorta must be screened for dilatation or aneurysm, which can be enlarged by operation. Such lesions can be operated on, with low risks, and should not be a contraindication to heart transplantation.
Diciolla
F
F
Institute of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, University of Siena, Italy.
Sassi
C
C
Neri
E
E
Carone
E
E
Capannini
G
G
Giunti
G
G
Guerrieri
W
W
Bernazzali
S
S
Maccherini
M
M
Sani
G
G
Toscano
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D016027:Heart Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*