We report the successful surgical treatment of a nonmycotic pseudoaneurysm of the ascending aorta in a 15 year old male who underwent surgical closure of an atrial septal defect at the age of 3 years. A Computed  Tomography  (CT)  scan was  performed  to  investigate  the  palpable  mass  on  the  healed sternotomy scar. It revealed a densely calcified nonmycotic pseudoaneurysm of the ascending aorta (9.5x

5.5 cm) arising from the prior cannulation site, and eroding into the sternum. Since the aneurysm and the ascending aorta were heavily calcified and adherent to the adjoining structures, it was repaired using a bovine pericardial gusset. The cause of the pseudoaneurysm was considered iatrogenic.

 

Key Words:  Pseudoaneurysm, Aortic cannulation site, Congenital Heart Disease, Calcified ascending aorta