Interact CardioVasc Thorac Surg, 2022 · DOI: 10.1093/icvts/ivac261 · Published: October 31, 2022
A 71-year-old man with a history of aortic dissection developed a pseudoaneurysm in his abdominal aorta after multiple previous aortic surgeries. This put him at high risk for spinal cord ischemia. To address this, surgeons performed a repair using a bovine pericardial patch, carefully preserving the lumbar arteries to minimize the risk of paraplegia. After the surgery and a year-long follow-up, the patient showed no signs of aortic dilation and had no leg function complaints, indicating a successful outcome.
Emphasizes the importance of lumbar artery preservation during aortic repair to prevent spinal cord ischemia, especially in high-risk patients.
Suggests bovine pericardium as a viable option for aortic repair, particularly when dealing with fragile, dissected vessels, due to its softness and conformability.
Highlights the use of separated patches to conform precisely to the vessel shape, minimizing stress on the aortic wall and optimizing repair outcomes.