Late complications after prosthetic replacement of the ascending aorta: what did we learn from routine magnetic resonance imaging follow-up?✩

Abstract

Peri-prosthetic haematoma occurs equally after aneurysm or dissection repairs and is a pre-existing condition for peri-prosthetic false aneurysm; biological glue or extended repair do not prevent late complications. Long-term MRI follow-up allows successful elective reoperation for life-threatened but asymptomatic patients.

Multimodality Imaging of Diseases of the Thoracic Aorta in Adults: From the American Society of Echocardiography and the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging

“…In the vast majority of patients, pseudoaneurysm is not associated with any clinical symptoms. 415 The silent nature of these potentially life-threatening complications emphasizes the need for surveillance imaging. Pseudoaneurysms usually occur at anastomoses.…”

Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance in Marfan Syndrome

“…CMR has been used very successfully to identify complications after prosthetic replacement of the ascending aorta for over a decade [106]. A postoperative study within the index admission is advised, followed by repeats at 1,3,6 and 12 months and annually thereafter [33].…”

Acquired diseases of the thoracic aorta: role of MRI and MRA

“…MRI is recognized as one of the imaging modalities of choice in postoperative evaluation [47][48][49][50]. MRI measurements are highly reproducible, and reproducibility is an essential component of serial examinations in which minimal change in dimension may represent a prognostic finding or indicate a need of preventive surgical strategies.…”