A mortal complication: Ascending aortic pseudoaneurysm after coronary artery bypass surgery

Ascending aortic pseudoaneurysm is a rare complication after open cardiac surgery with high mortality. Herein, we present a 47-year-old male patient in whom a pseudoaneurysm of the ascending aorta developed two years after coronary artery bypass grafting. The patient was referred to our clinic with the preliminary diagnosis of aortic dissection following transthoracic echocardiography. Based on the thoracic computed tomography angiography, coronary angiography, and ascending aortography results, the patient was diagnosed with a pseudoaneurysm of the ascending aorta and was operated urgently. The pseudoaneursym originated from the site of the cardioplegia needle entry. We performed graft interposition with a No. 26 Dacron tube graft under total circulatory arrest and deep hypothermia. Postoperative recovery was completely uneventful, and the patient was discharged on the postoperative Day 7 with full recovery. An effective and suitable surgical technique should be performed due to the risk of rupture of pseudoaneurysm and mortality in these patients.