Giant Distal Anastomotic Pseudoaneurysm 35 Years after Bentall Operation Mimicking an “Elephant Trunk”

We present the case of a giant distal aortic pseudoaneurysm 35 years after a classic mechanical Bentall operation. Computed tomography and coronary angiography showed that this originated from the distal suture line. The proximal suture and coronary ostia appeared to be intact. At reoperation, we found a complete dehiscence of distal suture line: the graft was floating in the pseudoaneurysm, mimicking an “elephant trunk” procedure. This complication suggested a systematic and accurate follow-up of patients who underwent an original Bentall procedure.

Transarterial coil embolization of an aortic root pseudoaneurym in a patient with Loeys-Dietz syndrome: a case report

Background Loeys-Dietz syndrome (LDS) is a rare autosomal-dominant connective tissue disorder characterized by arterial aneurysms and vascular friability. Surgical intervention for LDS patients carries significant morbidity and mortality. Currently, the standard management of aortic root pseudoaneurysms is surgical intervention. Case presentation A 20 year old male with LDS presented with a progressively enlarging ascending aortic aneurysm. He underwent a Bentall-type aortic root replacement complicated by a 20 mm aortic root anastomotic pseudoaneurysm. Due to the patient’s high risk for repeat surgical intervention, he underwent successful transarterial coil embolization of his aortic root pseudoaneurysm without complication. Conclusions Coil embolization may provide an alternative treatment for patients presenting with aortic root pseudoaneurysm who are high risk for traditional surgical treatment, such as those with connective tissue disease.

Life-Threatening Hematuria as Initial Presentation of a Complicated Transplant Renal Artery Pseudoaneurysm

In this case report, we describe the clinical course of a complicated transplant renal artery (TRA) pseudoaneurysm, clinically featured by gross and massive hematuria one month after a kidney transplant was performed on a 50 year-old male patient. TRA pseudoaneurysm is a rare but potentially life-threatening complication that may result in bleeding, infection, graft dysfunction/loss, lower limb ischemia/loss, hemorrhagic shock, and death. TRA pseudoaneurysm treatment remains challenging as it needs to be tailored to the patient characteristics including hemodynamic stability, graft function, anatomy, presentation, and pseudoaneurysm features. This publication discusses the clinical scenario of massive gross hematuria that derived from a retroperitoneal hematoma which originated from an actively bleeding TRA pseudoaneurysm. This case highlights the combined approach of endovascular stent placement and subsequent transplant nephrectomy as a last resort in the management of intractable bleeding from a complicated TRA pseudoaneurysm. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first published case report of an actively bleeding TRA anastomotic pseudoaneurysm that caused a massive retroperitoneal bleed that in turn evacuated via the bladder after disrupting the ureter-to-bladder anastomosis. A temporizing hemostatic arterial stent placed percutaneously allowed for a safer and controlled emergency transplant nephrectomy.

Retrospective evaluation of the endovascular repair of the anastomotic pseudoaneurysm of the transplanted renal artery using the snorkel technique

Objective To evaluate the endovascular repair of the transplanted renal artery anastomotic pseudoaneurysm using the snorkel technique. Methods From April 2012 to December 2017, we performed endovascular repair in six patients, who were diagnosed with transplanted renal artery anastomotic pseudoaneurysm, using the snorkel technique. The “snorkel” stent and the “parallel” stent were placed in the transplanted kidney and the external iliac artery, respectively. Another covered stent was implanted at the proximal end of the external iliac artery to match the diameter of the iliac artery. Result and conclusion: Of the six patients, three patients recovered. Two patients experienced pseudoaneurysm rupture due to infection, and one patient developed stent thrombosis; all three patients underwent graft nephrectomy. The endovascular treatment of transplanted renal artery anastomotic pseudoaneurysm with the snorkel technique is a feasible method but needs to comply with certain indications.