title: Total calcification of an aortic homograft used as aortic root replacement.
abstract: A 66-year-old man presented with total calcification of a homograft used as aortic root replacement approximately 10 years previously. Reoperation consisted of complete dissection of the homograft and en-bloc replacement with a mechanical conduit. Despite careful dissection the right coronary ostium was disrupted requiring reconstruction by interposition of a saphenous vein segment. Reoperation for failure of homografts used as aortic root replacement represents a major technical challenge.
authors.affiliation: Cardiothoracic and Vascular Department, Section of Cardiac Surgery, University of Pisa, Medical School, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Giacomo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ravenni
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pratali
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Scioti
authors.forename: Uberto
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Bortolotti
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001011:Aorta / Q000601:surgery*; D001024:Aortic Valve Stenosis; D001705:Bioprosthesis; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D020878:Device Removal; D006083:Graft Occlusion, Vascular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography; D012086:Reoperation; D012501:Saphenous Vein / Q000637:transplantation; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous; D016896:Treatment Outcome