“Twin Icicle” Calcifications Cause Aortic Annular Rupture

Publication date: Available online 4 April 2018 Source:The Annals of Thoracic Surgery Author(s): Masato Tochii, Takashi Muramatsu, Kentaro Amano, Masato Ishikawa, Naoki Hoshino, Meiko Miyagi, Akira Yamada, Yoshiyuki Takami, Yukio Ozaki, Yasushi Takagi Aortic annular rupture is a most fatal complication after transcatheter aortic valve implantation with high mortality. While it is quite rare and difficult to identify the mechanisms and predictors, prosthesis over-sizing and massive calcification of aortic annulus are thought to be a potential risk of this complication. A case presented here is an aortic annular rupture after transcatheter aortic valve implantation. Although there was no valve over-sizing, there were two severe calcifications of aortic annulus at nearby areas like “twin icicles”, thought to be a trigger of this fatal complication.
Source: The Annals of Thoracic Surgery - Category: Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery Source Type: research