Complementary role of cardiac computed tomography and Doppler-echocardiography in the evaluation of an uncommon case of giant pseudoaneurysm of ascending aorta complicated by fistula to the pulmonary artery

J Cardiovasc Med (Hagerstown). 2011 Mar;12(3):173-5. doi: 10.2459/JCM.0b013e328332e98d.

Abstract

This report describes the case of previous type-A aortic dissection treated with the placement of a termino-terminal prosthesis, which developed a large peri-prosthetic pseudoaneurysmatic sac, detected by CT, performed 2 years after the surgery. This raised the suspicion of a communication between the pseudoaneurysmatic sac and the aortic lumen, but was not able to show it directly. Transthoracic echocardiography confirmed the presence of the fistula, showing a systo-diastolic color Doppler jet signal connecting these two structures.The complementary role of these two diagnostic techniques allowed a complete evaluation of this complex pathology.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aneurysm, False / diagnosis*
  • Aneurysm, False / diagnostic imaging
  • Aneurysm, False / drug therapy
  • Aneurysm, False / etiology
  • Aortic Aneurysm / diagnostic imaging
  • Aortic Aneurysm / surgery*
  • Aortic Dissection / diagnostic imaging
  • Aortic Dissection / surgery*
  • Aortography / methods*
  • Arterio-Arterial Fistula / diagnosis
  • Arterio-Arterial Fistula / diagnostic imaging
  • Arterio-Arterial Fistula / drug therapy
  • Arterio-Arterial Fistula / etiology
  • Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation / adverse effects*
  • Cardiovascular Agents / therapeutic use
  • Echocardiography, Doppler, Color*
  • Echocardiography, Doppler, Pulsed*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Pulmonary Artery / abnormalities
  • Pulmonary Artery / diagnostic imaging
  • Time Factors
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed*

Substances

  • Cardiovascular Agents

Supplementary concepts

  • Aorta-pulmonary artery fistula