Case Report: Ascending Aortic Pseudo-Aneurysm Following Ventricular Septal Defect Repair in a 4-Year-Old Girl.

Abstract

Pseudo-aneurysm is a fatal disease, and the main cause of death is massive hemorrhage secondary to the rupture of the aneurysm. This case report aims to evaluate the effects of pseudo-aneurysm excision procedure on the disease. A 4-year-old girl was readmitted on the 20th day after ventricular septal defect (VSD) closure procedure with a high fever of 40°C; aortic pseudo-aneurysm was suspected based on a spherical cystic echo (82 × 76 mm) of the ascending aorta which was detected by ultrasonic cardiogram, and the diagnosis was confirmed by an aortic computed tomograph angiography (CTA) examination and intraoperative findings. Treatment included emergency pseudo-aneurysm excision procedure and antibiotic therapy. The aortic pseudo-aneurysm was surgically removed under deep hypothermia and circulatory arrest. Antibiotics were applied according to the bacterial culture results. The pseudo-aneurysm was excised successfully, and the patient achieved a good recovery. Our case suggests that the postoperative ascending aortic pseudo-aneurysm was probably due to inappropriate purse-string suture and/or local or systematic infection, so extra precautions should be taken to avoid this life-threatening complication.

• Authors: Xinya Li, Hong Zhou, Rui Zhang, Jing Zhao, Tian Li, Yu Zhang, Jianjun Ge
• Journal: Frontiers in pediatrics (Front Pediatr) Vol. 9 Pg. 576527 ( 2021) ISSN: 2296-2360 [Print] Switzerland
• PMID: 33659226 (Publication Type: Case Reports)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2021 Li, Zhou, Zhang, Zhao, Li, Zhang and Ge.