An unexpected finding late after repair of coarctation of the aorta

We describe a late complication in a 75-year-old man 50 years after repair of a coarctation of the aorta (CoA). Two years after an aortic valve replacement, mitral valve repair and radiofrequency MAZE the patient presented with dyspnoea and right-sided heart failure, based on a large pseudoaneurysm of the descending aorta, compressing the main bronchus and possibly temporarily the pulmonary arterial system. After sealing the aneurysm with an endovascular stent the patient recovered uneventfully. Recommendations are made for follow-up in patients after repair of CoA. (Neth Heart J 2008;16:260-3.).