Rupture of a dissecting thoracic aortic aneurysm into the pulmonary artery: successful surgical repair

Cardiovasc Surg. 1995 Dec;3(6):697-701. doi: 10.1016/0967-2109(96)82872-9.

Abstract

A rare complication of dissecting thoracic aortic aneurysms is rupture into a cardiac chamber or great vessel with fistula formation. A case of congestive heart failure caused by a chronic DeBakey type I dissecting aortic aneurysm that ruptured into the pulmonary artery is reported. Surgical repair involved closure of the fistula followed by graft replacement of the ascending aorta and transverse aortic arch. A review of the literature revealed no previous reports describing successful repair of this lesion. A clinical picture consistent with concomitant aortic dissection and biventricular heart failure, especially when a continuous cardiac murmur is present, suggests the diagnosis of an aortopulmonary arterial fistula caused by a ruptured dissecting thoracic aortic aneurysm. Various imaging studies confirm the diagnosis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aorta, Thoracic / surgery
  • Aortic Dissection / complications
  • Aortic Dissection / surgery*
  • Aortic Rupture / complications
  • Aortic Rupture / surgery*
  • Arterio-Arterial Fistula / etiology*
  • Arterio-Arterial Fistula / surgery*
  • Blood Vessel Prosthesis*
  • Heart Failure / etiology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pulmonary Artery / abnormalities
  • Pulmonary Artery / surgery*