An infected pseudoaneurysm following a modified Blalock-Taussig shunt

Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg. 2009 Jan;8(1):108-10. doi: 10.1510/icvts.2008.184333. Epub 2008 Aug 12.

Abstract

A two-month-old male infant with tetralogy of Fallot underwent a right-sided modified Blalock-Taussig shunt using a 4 mm expanded polytetrafluoroethylene graft through a right thoracotomy. Five months later, the patient developed otitis media, followed by repeated relapses of pneumonia and fever of unknown origin. Multidetector-row computed tomography and angiography, performed at 12 months of age, revealed a pseudoaneurysm of the subclavian artery at the insertion of the modified Blalock-Taussig shunt. After 20 days of antibiotic therapy, the pseudoaneurysm and infected graft were successfully resected through a median sternotomy approach. This report describes the treatment strategy of this rare but potentially fatal complication after a modified Blalock-Taussig shunt operation.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aneurysm, False / diagnostic imaging
  • Aneurysm, False / etiology*
  • Aneurysm, False / therapy
  • Aneurysm, Infected / diagnostic imaging
  • Aneurysm, Infected / etiology*
  • Aneurysm, Infected / therapy
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Blood Vessel Prosthesis / adverse effects*
  • Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation / instrumentation*
  • Cardiac Surgical Procedures / instrumentation*
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Device Removal
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Prosthesis-Related Infections / diagnostic imaging
  • Prosthesis-Related Infections / etiology*
  • Prosthesis-Related Infections / therapy
  • Sternum / surgery
  • Subclavian Artery* / diagnostic imaging
  • Tetralogy of Fallot / surgery*
  • Thoracotomy / adverse effects
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Vascular Surgical Procedures

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents