Abstract

OTERO NORZA, Diana et al. Disección de aorta en 2 pacientes con prótesis valvulares aórticas. Rev. costarric. cardiol [online]. 2006, vol.8, n.3, pp.25-28. ISSN 1409-4142.

Aortic dissection is a very serious complication that may occur spontaneously in patients with anomalies of the vessel wall itself or it may be associated to certain conditions such as pregnancy, hypertension, aortitis or trauma. Occasionally we see patients with aortic dissection after cardiac surgery, particularly aortic valve replacement. The diagnosis may be difficult or it may be obvious. Trans-esophageal echocardiography, computerized axial tomography or magnetic resonance imaging can diagnose this situation quite clearly. Surgery is the treatment of choice and it entails replacing the ascending aorta and reattaching the coronary ostia. Surgical mortality is high in spite of the center experience. We present herein the cases of 2 individuals who developed aortic dissection, one 11 years and the other 4 months after an aortic valve replacement. The first patient had undergone implantation of a mechanical prosthesis and the other had a biological valve. Both patients declined surgery and were discharged on medical management.

Keywords : Aortic valve replacement; Aortic dissection; Extracorporeal circulation.

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