Abdominal aortic aneurysms in heart transplanted patients.

Objective. In the AA's opinion, the dilatation of the abdominal aorta is no t a contraindication to heart transplantation. Methods and Materials. From July 1994 to February 1998, 3 out of 80 heart t ransplanted patients, required a replacement of their abdominal aorta becau se of an infrarenal aortic aneurysm. The first patient (62 years old) did n ot have an aneurysm by time of heart transplantation: his aneurysm (5.1 cm wide) was resected 2 years later. The other two patients (m, 44 years old; m, 60 years old) had a dilatation of 3.1 and 3.5 cm of the abdominal aorta by time of cardiac transplantation: 15 months later, the aneurysms measured 5.8 and 7 cm, respectively, and had been resected. Two resections were per formed through a retroperitoneal approach. Results. All 3 patients had uneventful postoperative course. Conclusion. Before heart transplantation the aorta must be screened for dil atation or aneurysm, which can be enlarged by operation. Such lesions can b e operated on, with low risks, and should not be a contraindication to hear t transplantation.