CTICasesAscending aortic pseudoaneurysm secondary to sternal wound infection
Imaging findings
CT scan of a post-lung transplant patient demonstrates a retrosternal fluid collection adjacent to the ascending aorta that grew over time. There is disruption of the aortic wall calcification and a large pseudoaneurysm associated with prior sternotomy reconstruction hardware and chronic wound infection.
Key takeaways
Postoperative sternal wound infections can extend into the anterior mediastinum and lead to life-threatening complications, including ascending aortic pseudoaneurysms. Disruption of normal wall calcium or new retrosternal fluid collections should prompt immediate evaluation.
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