Aortic Pseudoaneurysm Following Aortic Valve Replacement Complicated by
Sternal Wound Infection
Abstract
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.