Aortocoronary Bypass Surgery in a Patient with Severely Calcified Aorta and Coronary Arteries: Does Radiotherapy Induce it?

Abstract

Mediastinal irradiation has been shown to induce accelerated arteriosclerosis of calcification of thoracic aorta. Some people, with a history of cured malignant diseases, undergo Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) surgery and the adverse effects of previous radiotherapy on the outcome after CABG is known, but there are few reports on radiotherapy induced coronary and aortic calcification, which might affect the surgical outcome. We hereby report a patient who underwent CABG with severe calcification of the coronary arteries and thoracic aorta. In our opinion, radiotherapy, which was done 28 years earlier, was the most likely responsible factor. (JAREM 2013; 3: 38-40)