Visceral Ischemia Caused by Extra-Anatomical Bypass for Coral Reef Aorta

Masashi Kawabori

Division of Cardiac Surgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.

DOI: 10.4236/wjcs.2015.57012                

Abstract

A 72-year-old woman was presented with intermittent claudication of bilateral lower extremities, refractory hypertension, and mild renal impairment. Computed tomographic angiography showed severe aortic stenosis caused by calcifications protruding into the aortic lumen proximal and distal to the visceral and renal branches, so-called coral reef aorta. An axillo-iliac bypass was performed. Postoperatively, the patient developed ileus and acute renal failure, presumably caused by a steal phenomenon to the lower extremities. Endovascular stenting of the aorta increased forward blood flow and dramatically improved the patient’s condition. This case study illustrates potential hemodynamic complications after extra-anatomical axillo-iliac bypass for coral reef aorta.

Keywords

Coral Reef Aorta, Extra-Anatomical Bypass, Aortic Stenosis, Ischemia

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

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