Surgical treatment of infected pseudoaneurysms after replacement of the ascending aorta

The best management of infected pseudoaneurysms after prosthetic graft replacement of the ascending aorta has not yet been established. The successful surgical treatment of three patients with this complication following replacement of the aortic valve and ascending aorta is reported. Because of the poor preoperative clinical condition of these patients, an effort was made to carry out the operative repair as expeditiously as possible. The prosthetic material was never entirely removed and replaced, but less radical operations were performed in combination with extensive and accurate debridement of the mediastinum and local antiseptic irrigation.