title: Perforation of the descending thoracic aorta during transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI): an unexpected and dramatic procedural complication.
abstract: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has become an established technique for the treatment of aortic stenosis in patients who cannot undergo surgery. Although TAVI is obviously less invasive than open surgical repair, it is not free of complications. We report a case of unexplained refractory shock during transfemoral TAVI with subsequent autopsy demonstrating a 1-cm large perforation of the descending thoracic aorta as the cause of death. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case ever reported.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Center Hospitalier Universitaire de Charleroi, Charleroi, Belgium. adaminian@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Adel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aminian
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lalmand
authors.forename: Badih
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: El Nakadi
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries*; D001019:Aortic Rupture / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D001024:Aortic Valve Stenosis / Q000628:therapy*; D001027:Aortography / Q000379:methods; D001344:Autopsy; D001705:Bioprosthesis; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation; D006801:Humans; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D057772:Vascular System Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*