Prosthetic repair of coarctation of the aorta with particular reference to Dacron onlay patch grafts and late aneurysm formation

Prosthetic material was used in the repair of coarctation of the aorta in 72 patients followed for 8 months to 24 years after operation. False aneurysms occurred late postoperatively in 1 of 17 instances when a tube graft was used to replace the resected aorta and in 1 of 2 patients when the graft bypassed the obstructed area. A Dacron® onlay patch graft (DOPG) was used in 52 patients as the primary method of repair, to revise a previous repair or as an adjunct to another procedure at the time of initial operation. True of false late aneurysm occurred between 6 and 18 years postoperatively in 5 of the 38 patients in whom a DOPG was used for primary repair of the coarctation or to revise an earlier repair, an actuarial incidence of 38% at 14 years. Diagnosis of aneurysm formation late post-operatively depends on awareness of this complication and careful assessment of lateral as well as posteroanterior chest radiographs. DOPG should be avoided whenever possible.