Ascending aortic pseudoaneurysm following Norwood Stage 1 surgery in an infant

Pseudoaneurysms of the ascending aorta are rarely seen in paediatric patients. They may occur following complex cardiovascular surgery and are associated with a high risk of mortality due to their nature of spontaneous rupture. In this case report, we discuss a 1-year-old paediatric patient with an ascending aortic pseudoaneurysm following Norwood Stage 1 surgery with Sano modification for hypoplastic left heart syndrome and the patient’s successful recovery following aneurysmectomy with Norwood Stage 2 operation.

Percutaneous closure of giant ascending aortic pseudoaneurysm: 22 years after modified BlalockTaussig shunt with a septal occluder device

Pseudoaneurysm of the ascending aorta is rare (1–2%) and a potentially fatal complication following cardiac surgeries. Surgical repair is still the gold standard treatment of ascending aortic pseudoaneurysm. However, endovascular repair methods including stent grafts and Septal Occluder devices have been reported. We report a case of 38-year-old female patient who presented with giant ascending aortic pseudoaneurysm, and aortopulmonary fistula 22 years after modified BlalockTaussig shunt was managed by the transcatheter method. Septal Occluder device 20 mm diameter was delivered to seal the ostium.

Aortic Pseudoaneurysm Following Aortic Valve Replacement Complicated by Sternal Wound Infection

Pseudoaneurysm of the ascending aorta is a rare complication of cardiac surgery occurring in less than 0.5% of cases. Deep sternal wound infections (DSWI) increase the likelihood of aortic pseudoaneurysm. An ascending aortic pseudoaneurysm has high morbidity and the mortality rate has ranged from 29%-46% in the medical literature. We report a complex patient who underwent an AVR at an outside hospital complicated by DSWI requiring pectoral flap coverage. Months later, he was transferred to our institution with acute swelling of his sternum, diagnosed as massive aortic pseudoaneurysm originating from the cannulation site.