Ascending Aortic Pseudoaneurysm After Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting

Abstract

Ascending aortic pseudoaneurysm is a rare but fatal complication of cardiac surgery. Predisposing factors associated with ascending aortic pseudoaneurysms are usually related to several factors such as infection, prior connective tissue disorders, aortic cannulation, the proximal site of graft anastomosis or the suture line of aortotomy and the aortic clamp site. We present a case of an ascending aortic pseudoaneurysm developed 7 years after coronary artery bypass grafting associated with the proximal anastomosis of a saphenous vein graft. It is essential to diagnose the aneurysm in a timely manner during follow-up, to employ effective surgical techniques and to successfully manage the patients during the perioperative and postoperative periods because rupture of the aneurysm could result in death in these patients.