Extra-anatomical bypass grafting of the thoracic aorta in a female patient with an infected pseudoaneurysm

Abstract

Presented herein is the remote (more than 15-year follow up) result of successful surgical treatment of aortic coarctation complicated by septic aortitis and a false aneurysm of the anastomosis between the graft and the aortic arch. In 2002, after correction of aortic coarctation the woman was admitted to our Clinic with an incompetent proximal anastomosis and an infected aortic pseudoaneurysm. Taking into consideration the general and local septic process, repeat reconstruction of the thoracic aorta was impossible due to the risk for generalization of the infectious process and fatal complications. Therefore, the woman was subjected to extra-anatomical bypass grafting of the thoracic aorta with a synthetic graft from the ascending aorta to the infrarenal portion of the abdominal aorta in order to isolate the infection focus to be followed by removal thereof. The postoperative period turned out uneventful, with no complications. After 15 years, the woman was examined again, with her condition being stable. The findings of contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated complete patency of the extra-anatomical bypass graft. The carotid-subclavian anastomosis functioned well, without narrowed portions. No infectious complications after the carried out operations were observed. Using extra-anatomical bypass grafting with exclusion from circulation and removal of the infected portion of the aorta along with the graft is one of reliable variants of treatment for such a severe complication as an infected false aneurysm.