ABSTRACT
We report the case of a 3-month-old girl with a rare form of coarctation involving the lower descending thoracic aorta. Because of clinical findings of congestive heart failure and hypertension, early repair was recommended. Surgical intervention in young patients with this unusual localization presents a complex challenge. Aortic reconstruction was carried out by patching the stenotic segment with autologous arterial tissue. Three years after the repair, there is no evidence of recoarctation or aneurysmal dilation.
Subject(s)
Aortic Coarctation/surgery , Aortic Coarctation/diagnostic imaging , Aortography , Ductus Arteriosus, Patent/diagnostic imaging , Ductus Arteriosus, Patent/surgery , Female , Heart Failure/diagnostic imaging , Heart Failure/surgery , Humans , Infant , Postoperative Complications/diagnostic imaging , Postoperative Complications/surgery , ReoperationABSTRACT
A high incidence of dissolution and disruption of infected autogenous vein grafts has been demonstrated. PTFE, on the other hand, has been shown to maintain its structural integrity in the presence of well-entrenched infection, with a relatively small incidence of anastomotic disruption related to host artery necrosis. In addition, PTFE performed as well as autogenous vein when antibiotics were administered. Therefore, PTFE graft material is advocated for controlled clinical trials in patients with contaminated vascular injuries.
