Disruption of the vascular prosthesis caused by aortic calcification after replacement of the thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm

Ann Thorac Surg. 2006 Sep;82(3):1097-9. doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2006.01.040.

Abstract

A 52-year-old man underwent a replacement of the thoracoabdominal aorta. The aorta was severely calcified, and was replaced by a 24-mm woven Dacron (Vascutek, Renfrewshire, Scotland) graft wrapped with the calcificated aneurysmal wall. His postoperative course was uneventful; however, he collapsed on the 18th postoperative day. He underwent an emergent thoracotomy and the wrapped aneurysmal wall was taken down. The prosthesis graft had a 1-mm disruption in the middle portion, which did not relate to the anastomoses. Experimental study ex vivo showed that disruption of the prosthesis could have occurred after a 3-week pulsatile force caused by a seashell simulating aortic calcification.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / surgery*
  • Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic / surgery*
  • Aortic Diseases / complications*
  • Arteriosclerosis / complications*
  • Blood Vessel Prosthesis
  • Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation*
  • Calcinosis / complications*
  • Emergencies
  • Hemorheology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Models, Anatomic
  • Mollusca
  • Polyethylene Terephthalates
  • Postoperative Complications / etiology*
  • Prosthesis Failure*
  • Pulsatile Flow
  • Stress, Mechanical

Substances

  • Polyethylene Terephthalates