[Aortic pseudoaneurysm and aorta-right atrium fistula: a case report].
The development of an aortic pseudoaneurysm of the ascending aorta is described as a potential complication after composite graft surgery for combined disorders that simultaneously affect the aortic valve and ascending aorta; in the literature it has been reported to range from 7 to 25%. The aorta-right atrial fistula is an infrequent complication of aortic dissection and it is rarely diagnosed in association with aortic pseudoaneurysm. The pathophysiological mechanism of the first seems to be related to dehiscence of the suture line at the anastomosis site; in the second to anatomic contiguity between the aorta and right atrium. Our report refers to a 72-year-old man with a 3-year history of a Bentall composite aortic root replacement (modified by Kouchoukos), who presented with epigastric and chest pain accompanied with severe dyspnea. The diagnosis of aortic pseudoaneurysm complicated by right atrial fistula was made by the combination of transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiographic examination.
Divisione Clinicizzata di Cardiologia, Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia, Università degli Studi del Piemonte Orientale "Amedeo Avogadro", A.O. "Maggiore della Caritá", Novara. arognoni@hotmail.com
Andrea
A
Rognoni
Sergio
S
Iorio
Marta
M
Leverone
Paolo
P
Marino
D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D017541:Aneurysm, False / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D001011:Aorta / Q000601:surgery; D001014:Aortic Aneurysm / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D001022:Aortic Valve Insufficiency / Q000601:surgery; D001027:Aortography; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004452:Echocardiography; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D005402:Fistula / Q000209:etiology*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006325:Heart Atria; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed