title: Aortic valve replacement performed twice through ministernotomy 15 years after lung transplantation.
abstract: After transplantation, steroids and calcineurin inhibitors together with end-stage renal failure may lead to associated cardiovascular diseases, particularly in long-term survivors. We present a case of aortic valve replacement 15 years after lung transplantation, followed by reoperative valve replacement for late infective endocarditis. Lung compliance and gas exchange were excellent during recovery. Despite adequate prophylaxis, immunosuppression and hemodialysis likely contributed to repeated episodes of sepsis, which caused detachment of the first aortic prosthesis. Despite the high mortality of prosthetic valve endocarditis, the postoperative course was uneventful and the patient is doing well at 24-month follow-up.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Pavia School of Medicine, Foundation I.R.C.C.S. San Matteo Hospital, Pavia, Italy. m.morsolini@smatteo.pv.it
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Morsolini
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zattera
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Meloni
authors.forename: Andrea Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: D'Armini
mesh_terms: D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000601:surgery*; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D006801:Humans; D016040:Lung Transplantation; D008297:Male; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D012086:Reoperation; D056346:Sternotomy / Q000379:methods*; D017741:Survivors; D055815:Young Adult