Aortic Root Pseudoaneurysm 1 Year After Transapical Aortic Valve Implantation

An 84-year-old woman was admitted to our institution for transapical aortic valve implantation (TAVI) because of severe aortic stenosis coexisting with high-risk clinical conditions. She had a past history of type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, intrinsic asthma, moderate to severe chronic renal insufficiency (Modification of Diet in Renal Disease glomerular filtration rate, 36 mL/min per 1.73 m2), and peripheral atherosclerotic vascular disease involving both iliofemoral arteries. Eighteen months before, she had suffered a non–ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction and was treated with 2 bare metal stents on the middle segment of the left anterior descending coronary artery and the very proximal or ostial segment of the right coronary artery. Aortic stenosis was evaluated as moderate. After 5 months, she developed advanced Mobitz II–type atrioventricular block, and a permanent sequential atrial synchronous ventricular inhibited pacemarker was indicated. Progression of the aortic valve disease was not noted. More recently, she was admitted to another hospital with severe dyspnea, showing signs of acute heart failure on physical examination. Urgent transthoracic echocardiogram disclosed a normal left ventricle with preserved ejection fraction and progression of the severity of the aortic valve stenosis. Because of the very high operative risk, conventional on-pump aortic valve replacement was dismissed. …