Homograft Treatment for Infected Frozen Elephant Trunk Prosthesis

Abstract

A 46-year-old male received total arch replacement with frozen elephant trunk for acute non-A/non-B aortic dissection. Two months later, he underwent emergency reoperation for contained rupture of the left common carotid ostium at its insertion on the aortic arch. Three months after the reoperation, he developed tracheoesophageal fistula and infection of the prosthesis in the region of the aortic arch and the proximal descending aorta. Second reoperation was performed with replacement of the aorta with a composite of three aortic homografts, and the fistula was permanently closed with a direct suture and intercostal muscle flap